Unusual. Elijah has been working with an audience to rebuild the altar of God and then prove that God is still the one true God. But now, he does something very unusual. Read 1 Kings 18:33-35. Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. The water flowed around the altar and he…

The Name of the Lord. Elijah had an audience and he got busy. He built an altar in the Name of the Lord. So with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord , and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed. Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. 1 KINGS 18:32‭-‬33 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/1ki.18.32-33.NASB Elijah set up the altar exactly the way that was described in the books of the law. But more than that, he built that alar in the Name of the Lord. This was to…

Symbolism. Elijah had a huge audience and now everyone was watching him. So he sets about making a demonstration that people will remember. Read 1 Kings 18:31-32. Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” So with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord , and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed. 1 KINGS 18:31‭-‬32 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/1ki.18.31-32.NASB The kingdom is divided, but Elijah still goes through the steps to help people to see…

Come here. Elijah had had enough. The other prophets had their chance and failed. Now it was his turn. He calls the people to him. Read 1 Kings 18:30. Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down. 1 KINGS 18:30 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/1ki.18.30.NASB He gathered an audience and then began to model the correct behavior so that they would see and understand what they should have been doing. Do we want people looking closely at our lives? Would we call people over to look at what we…

No answer. When we are busy calling for help, it’s important to make sure that what we are calling to, can actually answer us. Read 1 Kings 18:27-29. It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.” So they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them. When midday was past, they raved until the time of the offering of…

No fire. Elijah is going over the rules of this contest. He tells the other prophets that they are to make an altar and put the sacrifice on it and make everything ready, but not to add the fire. Read 1 Kings 18:25-26. So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it. ” Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.” But there…

A contest! Elijah decides it’s time for the people to really figure out who they are going to believe in and trust. He’s just challenged them to pick a side. Now he proposes a contest to determine who is the real God. Read 1 Kings 18:22-24. Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord , but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on…

Pick a side! God is ready to show the people just exactly who is God and Elijah is there to set the stage. Read 1 Kings 18:19-21. Now then send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel. Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer…

Whose fault is it? Ahab doesn’t believe that any of the difficulties that they are facing are his fault. He feels Elijah us solidly to blame for the famine and draught. Read 1 Kings 18:17-18. When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is this you, you troubler of Israel?” He said, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals. 1 KINGS 18:17‭-‬18 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/1ki.18.17-18.NASB Elijah wants to be very clear, Ahab’s sin is what has led to the judgment of God that is being felt by the entire country. Ahab…

Trust and obey. The title of a hymn really defines the message from our verses today. Read 1 Kings 18:14-16. And now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here “‘; he will then kill me.” Elijah said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.” So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 1 KINGS 18:14‭-‬16 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/1ki.18.14-16.NASB Obadiah had explained his concerns and Elijah had listened to them, but then he explained what he was going to do and it left Obadiah with the choice to simply…