Mount Carmel in the Bible is actually a mountain range in northern Israel. It is twenty-four miles long, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea in the north near Haifa southeastward into the heart of Israel.
"When he saw Elijah, he said to him, 'Is that you, you troubler of Israel?'" (1 Kings 18:17)
Elijah had been in hiding for the 3 ½ years of a drought. The Lord now told him to reveal himself to King Ahab. There where 850 priests of the false gods, Baal and Asherah present. Elijah asked the prophets of Baal to build altars to their “god”. The “god” that made fire appear would be the real and powerful god.
1 Kings 18:19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
The prophets prayed and chanted all day but they could not get their “god” to send fire down to burn the sacrifices on their altars. Finally, Elijah had his altar doused in water and then prayed to the Lord to send fire. Fire immediately consumed the sacrifice, the wood, stones, soil and even the water that had overflowed into the trenches around the altar. After this miracle rain also came to end the drought.
1 Kings 18:38 When Elijah then prayed to the One True God, God sent down fire that consumed not only the sacrifice, but "the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench
At Mount Carmel, God displayed His power through Elijah, using both a consuming fire and life-giving water in the form of rain. God revealed Himself to be the One True God worthy of all our worship.
The meeting at Mount Carmel wasn’t a circus. The purpose wasn’t to entertain but to demand a choice between Yahweh and Baal. Elijah’s desire is expressed later in his prayer: “So that this people will know that You, Yahweh, are God”
Elijah challenged his generation who believed the same thing. They acknowledged Yahweh but believed following Baal was a more practical way for farmers and merchants to live. However, if God is God, then we must submit to Him and surrender every area of our lives to His lordship.
"Then Elijah said to all the people, 'Come here to me.' They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which was in ruins.'" (1 Kings 18:30)
Israel was “hesitating” or “limping” or “wavering” between Baal and Yahweh (v. 21).
God answers prayer
Today the test is the same. The only God who answers prayer is the God of the Bible, and He is the true and living God.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT Never stop praying. (pray without ceasing)
In our world, and in most modern countries the altars are broken down and need to be repaired! Revive us again, O Lord!
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