1 Kings 18:20-46

18:21 | Elijah’s call to choose sides rings into our hearts today. No place in the Word of God is there room for a middle-of-the-road position (Matt. 6:24).

18:26-29 | If anyone could answer by fire, it should have been Baal, the storm god. His worshipers believed that he controlled lightning. He is busy was a euphemism for going to the restroom. According to their customs of Baal worship, the dancing, shouting, and self-mutilation were meant to arouse Baal from death, from sleep, or call him back from a journey.

18:32-35 | Elijah soaked the altar, the offering, and the wood with water in order to remove any chance of spontaneous combustion or any claim that he cheated once the offering was consumed with fire.

18:36-37 | In ancient times, each tribe or clan had a god, and each region had a god. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (or Jacob) was unique in that He was identified with multiple persons, not a shrine, locale, or particular clan.

18:36 | The title servant reveals Elijah’s function as a prophet and his status before a holy and righteous God. Elijah’s request was twofold: (1) That people would know that Yahweh is God, the Creator and Redeemer. When God’s people pray for God’s glory and honor, they are praying exactly this – that the world will recognize God as God. (2) That the people would turn back to the Lord. Their hearts needed to be as aflame with the power of God as that altar.

18:38-39 | The fire from heaven dramatically revealed the power of God – the true God of the storm – who responded to a humble servant praying for Him to be known. The people fell on their faces, prostrate, in acknowledgment that Elijah’s God was real. Those who see God as He truly is will fall before Him in humility and reverence.

18:43-44 | Elijah prayed seven times for rain to fall on Carmel. Sometimes peace comes instantly; other times it comes slowly as a person lingers before God’s throne. Elijah is an example of how the fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much (James 5:16-18).

18:46 | It was 17 miles from Mount Carmel to Jezreel, where Ahab’s palace was located.