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The showdown on Mount Carmel with the prophet Elijah
and the prophets of Baal has to be one of the greatest displays of
God's supernatural power. Elijah was just one man facing 850
prophets of Baal, the king's soldiers and a hostile crowd. The
contest rules were simple: "The God that answers by fire, let him be
God." The prophets of Baal went first, trying to conjure up fire,
even to the point of cutting themselves. After their failure, Elijah
built a stone altar, prepared the wood and the sacrifice and then
proceeded to drench everything with water. God answered his simple
prayer with fire from heaven that consumed the stones, wood,
sacrifice and even the water! There was no confusion in the minds of
the Israelites as to who was the true and living God and the
prophets of Baal were rounded up and swiftly executed. The rain
returned and Elijah outran King Ahab's horses back to Jezreel. This
was a mountaintop experience to be sure and yet the next day Queen
Jezebel was able to instill such fear in Elijah that he ran for his
life. Everyone has mountaintop experiences with forays into the
valley of despair. Trusting the Lord in large and small matters is
an issue that Christians struggle with on a daily basis. God knows
the weakness of mankind and we can only remain strong when we
completely trust in the Lord. |
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