Day 135

The Raving Priests of Baal

1 Kings 18:1–29

For three years, no rain fell. Then God said to Elijah, “Go visit Ahab. I’ll send rain again.”

Meanwhile, Obadiah, who was in charge of Ahab’s palace, searched for water. On the way, he met Elijah.

“Is that you, Elijah?”

“Yes, it’s me,” Elijah replied. “Tell Ahab I’m here.”

Ahab saw Elijah and said, “Is that the man who’s brought this trouble to Israel?”

“You caused this drought, Ahab,” Elijah said. “You’ve left God to worship Baal. Have Baal’s 400 priests and the 450 prophets of Asherah come to Mount Carmel.”

At the mountain Elijah announced, “You must choose: Follow Baal or the Lord God. Bring two oxen; one for Baal’s priests, one for me. We’ll cut them up and put them each on an altar. Then you call on your god; I’ll call on the Lord. The one who sends fire on the altar will be Israel’s God.

Baal’s priests put their ox on the altar and called on Baal all morning: “O Baal, answer us.”

Elijah laughed. “Maybe your god is asleep or has wandered away somewhere.” Baal’s priests raved on past noon with no answer.

Questions: How did Ahab cause the drought in Israel? What happened when the priests called on Baal?