1 Kings 17 opens with Elijah’s sudden appearance, announcing to corrupt King Ahab there would be no rain until he said so.

And then this happened: Elijah the Tishbite, from among the settlers of Gilead, confronted Ahab: “As surely as GOD lives, the God of Israel before whom I stand in obedient service, the next years are going to see a total drought—not a drop of dew or rain unless I say otherwise.” (1 Kings 17.1, MSG)

It’s now three years later, and chapter 18 opens:

A long time passed. Then GOD’s word came to Elijah. The drought was now in its third year. The message: “Go and present yourself to Ahab; I’m about to make it rain on the country.”  (1 Kings 18.1, MSG)

Even in a corrupt regime like Ahab and Jezebel, God has his people:

Ahab called for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Obadiah feared GOD—he was very devout. Earlier, when Jezebel had tried to kill off all the prophets of GOD, Obadiah had hidden away a hundred of them in two caves, fifty in a cave, and then supplied them with food and water. (1 Kings 18.3, 4, MSG)

Elijah reveals himself to Obadiah who says three times “Ahab will kill me” if I report to him that Elijah is here, and you’re not. He has looked in all kingdoms! (See 1 Kings 18.7 – 14) But Elijah was living with a widow in no doubt humble circumstances in an out-of-the-way village. He was right there in Sidon – Jezebel’s home country!

Then Ahab accuses Elijah of being the trouble-maker:

The moment Ahab saw Elijah he said, “So it’s you, old troublemaker!” “It’s not I who has caused trouble in Israel,” said Elijah, “but you and your government—you’ve dumped GOD’s ways and commands and run off after the local gods, the Baals. (1 Kings 18.17 – 18, MSG)

Now, let’s have a meeting!

Here’s what I want you to do: Assemble everyone in Israel at Mount Carmel. And make sure that the special pets of Jezebel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of the local gods, the Baals, and the four hundred prophets of the whore goddess Asherah, are there.” (1 Kings 18.19, MSG)

Then the famous challenge:

Elijah challenged the people: “How long are you going to sit on the fence? If GOD is the real God, follow him; if it’s Baal, follow him. Make up your minds!” Nobody said a word; nobody made a move. (1 Kings 18.21, MSG)

It’s hard to remember, this is the kingdom of “Israel.” These are the people of God. They had not one good king in their whole existence from after Solomon until the Assyrian scattering. But they would have said, “God and…” Elijah challenges: “If the Lord be God, follow him!” What does that look like? Jesus said, “Love God; love your neighbor.”

• “Love your neighbor.” I have a neighbor whose yard is a perennial mess. Instead of complaining, can I be part of the solution?
• “Take care of the poor.” I give to my church and many Christian missionary efforts. I donate only $25/month to the Rescue Mission. Unlike my friend Heidi Gleghorn, I’m never in contact with the poor.
• Which of my neighbors need Jesus? How many have I told?
• “If the Lord be God, follow him!” It’s not enough not to be a bad guy. How can I be a good guy – a true Jesus follower?

Then the demonstration. (See 1 Kings 18.20 – 39.) It’s not the intensity of the prayers nor the number of people praying, it’s whom they are praying to! 450 enthusiastic prophets of Baal. One prophet of God, and here is his simple prayer:

When it was time for the sacrifice to be offered, Elijah the prophet came up and prayed, “O GOD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make it known right now that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I’m doing what I’m doing under your orders. Answer me, GOD; O answer me and reveal to this people that you are GOD, the true God, and that you are giving these people another chance at repentance.” (1 Kings 18.36, 37, MSG)

Simple prayer. In this case, an immediate result:

Immediately the fire of GOD fell and burned up the offering, the wood, the stones, the dirt, and even the water in the trench. (1 Kings 18.38, MSG)

Then they killed the 450 prophets of Baal, and Elijah prayed for rain.

Elijah said to Ahab, “Up on your feet! Eat and drink—celebrate! Rain is on the way; I hear it coming.” Ahab did it: got up and ate and drank. Meanwhile, Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bowed deeply in prayer, his face between his knees. Then he said to his young servant, “On your feet now! Look toward the sea.” He went, looked, and reported back, “I don’t see a thing.” “Keep looking,” said Elijah, “seven times if necessary.” And sure enough, the seventh time he said, “Oh yes, a cloud! But very small, no bigger than someone’s hand, rising out of the sea.” “Quickly then, on your way. Tell Ahab, ‘Saddle up and get down from the mountain before the rain stops you.’ ” Things happened fast. The sky grew black with wind-driven clouds, and then a huge cloudburst of rain, with Ahab hightailing it in his chariot for Jezreel. And GOD strengthened Elijah mightily. Pulling up his robe and tying it around his waist, Elijah ran in front of Ahab’s chariot until they reached Jezreel. (1 Kings 18.41 – 46, MSG)

Always a very exciting story. A huge success. I can hardly wait to see what Elijah does next! Stay tuned.

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (James 5.17 – 18, NIV)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1.22, NIV)