At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O LORD, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”

Immediately the fire of the LORD flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The LORD—he is God! Yes, the LORD is God!”

Then Elijah commanded, “Seize all the prophets of Baal. Don’t let a single one escape!” So the people seized them all, and Elijah took them down to the Kishon Valley and killed them there.

1 Kings 18:36-40

About noontime Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!”
1 Kings 18:27

• Israel is deep in idolatry under Ahab and Jezebel. 
• Elijah confronts 450 prophets of Baal 
• Baal, who is worshipped as a storm god, should be able to send fire. 
• Elijah versus the prophets of baal on Mount Carmel. 
• The conflict of the gods…the people must choose. 
• Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
  1 Kings 18:21
• Today’s idols include money, power, self, and success. 
• We must choose who we truly worship. 
• Elijah’s prayer is short, humble, and full of faith. 
• The purpose is so the people will know that Yahweh alone is God. 
• Elohim is the general term for a god. 
• Yahweh is God’s personal, covenant name –the God who “is”. Exodus 3:14
• Elijah orders the execution of Baal’s prophets. 
• This is a judgment on wickedness and false religion. 
• We don’t fight idolatry with violence today, but we must remove idols from our lives. 
• God calls for full devotion. Exodus 20:3
• What modern idols tempt us to divide our loyalty? 
• Do we trust God to show His power when we stand alone like Elijah? 
• Do we pray like Elijah? 
• Do we speak of God like Elijah? 
• Do we act with faith like Elijah? 

There is one Elohim, the all-powerful Creator, and Yahweh is His name. He is still calling people to turn back to Him…through His people!