Elijah was a great prophet that God sent to the northern kingdom of Israel in the days of Ahab the wicked, idol worshiping king. Because of Israel's sin, Elijah prophesied drought, and God stopped all rain for three years. During this time Elijah went into hiding from Ahab. At the end of three years without rain, he reappeared and showed himself to King Ahab. Ahab saw Elijah and said, “Is that you, you troublemaker of Israel?” Elijah said, “I have not troubled Israel. You have done so by worshiping the idol Baal!” Then Elijah said, “Gather all of Israel at Mt. Carmel, and we will see who is the true God, the Lord or Baal.”
On the chosen day, King Ahab was there with four hundred fifty prophets of Baal. And all Israel were gathered at Mt. Carmel. Elijah stood alone for the Lord. Elijah said to the people, “Let me offer a sacrifice without fire. Let the four hundred prophets of Baal also offer a sacrifice without fire. The god who answers with fire is the true God.” All the people said, “Yes! This is a good plan!”
Then, early in the morning, the prophets of Baal prayed, “Oh, Baal! Hear us! Send fire! Oh, Baal. Hear us! Send fire!” They cried out until midday and nothing happened. At midday, Elijah mocked them, “Maybe Baal is asleep! Maybe he has gone on a journey.
Shout louder!” Then the prophets of Baal began to jump and dance and shout loudly and even cut themselves with knives until the blood flowed. “Oh, Baal! Hear us! Send fire! – Oh, Baal. Hear us! Send fire!” When evening came near, still nothing had happened.
So Elijah said, “Enough! Now it is my turn.” Elijah built an altar to the Lord from twelve stones. He slaughtered a bull and placed it on the altar. He dug a trench around the altar and had men pour twelve large containers of water on the sacrifice. The water went on the bull, the wood, and the stones and filled up the trench. Then Elijah stood back and prayed, “Oh, God. Show that you are God and that I am your servant.” Then, immediately, fire came down from heaven and completely consumed the sacrifice, the wood, and even the stones and the water.
Then all the people shouted, “The Lord! He is God!” And Elijah said, “Take those prophets of Baal and kill them.” And immediately after that the rain came again.