Wild TestamentSample

Elijah Mocks the Prophets of Baal

In 1 Kings 16, a man named Ahab became king. The Bible says Ahab was more evil than all the kings before him, for Ahab tried to convince God’s people that God was not the one, true god. 

During Ahab’s reign, the land went through a severe drought. God told Elijah to present himself to Ahab, and He would send rain at last. 

Elijah sends word that he wants to see the king and ends up in a showdown on top of a mountain. Elijah is on one side, and hundreds of prophets of Baal (the idol Ahab worshipped) are on the other. 

People gather to see what will happen, and Elijah issues this challenge: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.”

So they set up a sacrifice and pray for fire. Whichever god answers must be the real, true god. You’ll have to read the story to see how it all goes down. 

Once the question of whose god is real is settled, God does indeed send rain. 

In both the rain and the fire, God shows His people that He is our creator and provider. He is all-powerful and all-knowing. He never fails. 

Like Israel, we don’t need to waver between two opinions. We can know that God is forever and always the one, true God. Regardless of who is in charge, what other people say, or how bleak our circumstances get, our God reigns supreme. 

Reflect:

• Are you 100% committed to God, or do you sometimes waver in opinions like the people in this story?
• Is there any situation where you worry God can’t or won’t come through? Where do you need to be reminded that you can trust God?