ts to meet with him. When the meeting occurs, Ahab refers to Elijah as the troubler of Israel (1 Kings 18:17). Elijah responds by saying that Israel has brought the trouble upon themselves by worshiping Baal. This is the first statement of the reason that Elijah has been sent on this mission. Ahab is then instructed to gather all of his people and the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:19).It is at this point that we come to one of the most dramatic events in the entire Old Testament. One man, Elijah, challenges the most powerful king in the land and his prophets to a contest of faith. He declares that the worshipers of Baal will cut a bull into pieces and set it upon the altar of Baal. As the lone representative of Yahweh, Elijah will then cut up a bull and set it upon the altar of Yahweh. The prophets are then to call upon Baal to strike the altar with fire. Elijah will then call upon Yahweh to strike his altar with fire. The true god could then be determined.The prophets do as instructed and call upon Baal to ignite their altar. They call out and dance, but nothing happened. All the while Elijah is taunting them, asking them why Baal is not responding. The failure of Baal to react is made even more dramatic when one recognizes the fact that Baal is the supposed god of weather, and was often depicted with a thunderbolt in his hand (Stafford 389). Elijah then takes his turn. He lays the bull upon the altar, but then he pours water all over the offering. This is a demonstration of extreme faith and confidence in Yahweh. Elijah then calls out: Answer me, Yahweh,so these people will know that youare God (1 Kings 18:37). Yahweh answers in dramatic fashion. He burns the offering, the altar, and he even set fire to the water and destroys all of it completely. Because of this demonstration, the people of Israel once again proclaim Yahweh as their God (1 Kings 18:39). As one reads the account of this contest in 1...
