Elijah on Mount Carmel – 1 Kings 18:16-45

The Story in a Nutshell

Elijah was a famous prophet and wonder-worker in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of Ahab.  One day Elijah met up with King Ahab.  Ahab called Elijah a troublemaker, but Elijah said Ahab was the troublemaker for worshiping Baal instead of worshipping and obeying God. Part of the trouble was that Elijah had told Ahab that because of not following God, there would be no rain until Elijah said so. Now it was time for action; Elijah called for a showdown.  Ahab summoned all the people and prophets of Baal to Mount Carmel.  There, Elijah addressed them.  “If the Lord is God, follow him, but if Baal is God, then follow him!”  The people didn't’t do anything, so Elijah issued a challenge.  He and the prophets of Baal each built an altar, put wood on it, and then lay a bull on it.  Then each was to call upon the name of their god.   The god who answered by setting fire to the wood was the true God. The prophets of Baal went first.  They shouted, they danced, and they even cut themselves with knives, but nothing happened.  After nearly all day there was no reply, no voice, and no answer from their god.  Then it was Elijah’s turn.  To make it even more challenging, Elijah dug a trench around his altar, filled it with water, and also poured water over the bull and the wood.  How could anything so wet catch on fire? Then Elijah called upon the Lord.  Immediately the fire of the Lord came down from heaven and consumed everything.  The people were amazed and cried out, “The Lord is God!  The Lord is God!”   Next, Elijah had all the prophets of Baal seized and killed.  Finally, Elijah sent his servant to look out over the sea.  After look seven times the servant finally saw a tiny cloud in the distance.  That cloud grew in size and finally brought rain to the region.

Review Questions

Who was Elijah?

What was the problem between Elijah and King Ahab?

What challenge did Elijah issue to the prophets of Baal?

What did the prophets of Baal and Elijah each do?

What happened when the prophets of Baal went first?

What did Elijah do when it was his turn?

What happened when Elijah called upon the Lord?

 What happened when Elijah’s sacrifice was consumed by fire?

What did Elijah do with the prophets of Baal?

What happened when Elijah sent his servant to look out over the sea?

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