I Kings 18:21

I Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him … It had not rained in Israel for three years! Everything had dried up. There were no streams left and just a little bit of water could be pulled up from deep, deep wells. The crops had long ago disappeared and the few animals that were still alive were as thirsty as the people were. God told Elijah that it was time to confront Ahab and the people. Elijah said, “How long are you going to teeter between following Baal or following God? Let’s have a contest. Whoever answers with fire from heaven will be the true God to be worshipped.” It sounded reasonable to everyone, so they just nodded their heads in silence. Elijah let the prophets of Baal go first. They danced around their altar, but nothing happened. They shouted to Baal, but nothing happened. They cut themselves to show Baal that they were serious, but nothing happened. Do you know why nothing happened? That’s right. That’s because Baal was a fake. He wasn’t a real god! Well, about the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah had had enough. He said, “OK fellas, that’s enough. You’ve had your chance and nothing has happened. Now step aside!” And Elijah took over. He repaired the altar to God and put wood and the sacrifice upon it. Then he commanded four barrels of water to be poured all over the altar! And then he said, “Good! Now do it again!” And they did. And then he said, “Great! Now do it a third time!” Twelve barrels of water in the middle of a drought poured all over the sacrifice! Then Elijah knelt before the altar and said a short, sincere prayer of thanksgiving to the God of heaven. And the fire fell down, consuming the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and even licking up the water that had been poured all around! God had answered Elijah’s prayer because Elijah had honored God!