Answer me, LORD! Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God and that you have turned their hearts back to you. 1 Kings 18:37 NABRE
The books of Kings carry the history of Israel from the death of King David to the fall of Jerusalem and the end of the Babylonian captivity (587 B.C.E.) The books are based on a number of sources including material covering the prophets Elijah and Elisha. The section of the books including the quoted verse addresses King Ahab and his assertive wife Jezebel, both of whom tolerate the worship of Baal which was an idolatrous worshiping. The most formidable prophet Israel has ever produced, Elijah, stages a confrontation between Yahweh and Baal on Mount Carmel. Hundreds of Canaanite priests perform ritual antics to arouse Baal into action, trying to call down fire on a holocaust offering. When they fail with Elijah mocking them, Elijah calls down fire from God consuming the offered sacrifice. Triumphant Elijah slaughters the priests of Baal and announces that Yahweh is ending a long drought that has afflicted Israel. The quoted verse has Elijah speaking to the Lord to bring down fire on the sacrificial offering. The priests of Baal having tried most of the day, fail, and we hear Elijah speaking simply to God and God answering. This action according to Elijah is to show the people that God is the one true God and the people should turn back to Him, ignoring all other gods.
After the slaughter of the priests Elijah is driven away by Jezebel’s death threats, he is the solitary prophet, still faithful to Yahweh, and retreats to the desert, to the origin of faith Mount Horeb/Sinai. Elijah will encounter Yahweh on the mount and return to anoint new leaders who will carry on the divine will, replacing Ahab who has failed the people and God.
Do you depend on the wrong gods? Do you use simple words to pray?
The most formidable prophet Israel has ever produced, Elijah, stages a confrontation between Yahweh and Baal on Mount Carmel. Click To Tweet#bible’#godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #fire #trust #Kings #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray #prayer #goodnews #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways