ELIJAH: CONTEST AT CARMEL

With stories like the crossing of the Red Sea, Noah’s ark, Jonah’s journey in the belly of the great fish, and Joshau’s victory over Jericho, the story of the Contest at Carmel ranks among the most incredible and exciting in God’s word! It’s epic! 

The contest takes place on the beautiful and fertile Mount Carmel, located in northern Israel near the Mediterranean coast.

The Contest pitted Elijah, God’s prophet, against “450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah” (1 Kings 18:19). One against eight-hundred-fifty… It wasn’t a fair fight… because God was on Elijah’s side!

The rules of the game were simple. Build an altar. Place a sacrificial animal upon the altar. Then pray, asking for fire to fall from heaven to consume and accept the offering.

The pagan priest went first. They “called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, ‘Baal, answer us!’ But there was no sound; no one answered. Then they danced around the altar they had made” (1 Kings 18:26). Baal was no more than a lifeless figurine, a hand-hewn piece of rock or wood. Of course, Baal was deaf and dumb. From Baal, there was no fire… not even a tiny spark.

When it was Elijah’s turn, to make things more interesting, he poured barrel after barrel of water over the altar. Wet wood doesn’t burn easily.

After making preparations, Elijah prayed that God would show up and show off! “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things. Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the Lord, are God” (1 Kings 18:36–37).

Did God show up? Did He show off? Yes.

“The Lord’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, ‘The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!’ ”(1 Kings 18:38–39).

The Contest at Carmel wasn’t much of a contest. God, our Great Overcomer, our All-Powerful Victor, our Champion and Hero, just did what only God can do!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).