God is the Greatest: The Story of Elijah on Mount Carmel

King Ahab was the most wicked king the Jewish people had ever had. He led the way for his people to worship the fake god, Baal, and in doing so made God angry and sad. God sent Elijah the prophet with a message and a discipline from God, “There will be no rain.”

For three years, God kept rain from falling. The people had no food left, and they had nothing to drink. Many were dying because of their need for water.

Elijah returned to Ahab and challenged him, “Have your priests of Baal build and altar. And I too will build one. Then you pray to your gods and I will pray to the true God, asking for fire. Whoever’s god brings the fire down to the altar is the true God. Call the people to watch, it is time they chose the real God.”

Baal’s priests prayed, yelled, even cut themselves with swords, and begged for fire from Baal but none came. Elijah dumped water all over his altar, making it seem impossible for a fire to start. Then he prayed, and God sent blazing flames to devour the sacrifice. God, the God of Israel and our God, was the greatest then and is the greatest still today.

^“And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” 1 Kings 18:39

Have you seen God do anything great in your life?