April 27, 2024

Three years had passed with no rain. God told Elijah to meet with King Ahab of Israel, and He would make it rain. Obadiah, the governor of Ahab's house, was sent to find grass for the cows and horses. Obadiah ran into Elijah on his way and freaked out because they had all sworn they couldn't find him. He was afraid that if he went to tell Ahab that Elijah was alive, Ahab would kill him if he didn't show his face. Elijah promised to show himself. Obadiah told Ahab, and he went to meet Elijah. When Ahab saw Elijah, he accused him of troubling Israel.

And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. 1 Kings 18:18-19

Elijah challenged Ahab to a showdown between the prophets of Baal, the prophets of the grove, and God. The Baal prophets butchered their bull and began praying for Baal to consume it with fire. They  prayed from morning to noon with no results. Elijah began taunting them. When it came time for the evening sacrifice, Elijah butchered his bull, set up twelve stones for each of the tribes of Israel, dug a trench, and had water poured on the sacrifice three times, and the water filled the trench. Elijah began to pray. 

Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. 1 Kings 18:38-39

There's nothing like a miracle to show people who the one true God is. Elijah then took all the Baal prophets to the brook Kishon and killed them. After that, Elijah began praying for rain, and the rain came. 

The common thread is that Elijah prayed. We must make it a point to pray, talk to God about our issues, and leave them to him to solve. Elijah didn't have the power; God had the power. Remember, only God has power, but we pray for his intervention, just like Elijah.