The Answer - Continue

Before Elijah's prayer, the crowds there might have wondered if Jehovah would turn out to be an empty lie, as Baal had proved to be. After the prayer, though, there was no time for wondering. The account says: "At that the fire of Jehovah came falling and went eating up the burnt offering and the pieces of wood and the stones and the dust, and the water that was in the trench was licked up." (1 Kings 18:38) What a spectacular answer! And how did the people respond?

"Jehovah is the true God! Jehovah is the true God!" they cried out, all of them. (1 Kings 18:39) At last they saw the truth. However, they had not as yet shown any faith. Frankly, to admit that Jehovah is the true God after seeing the fire fall from heaven in response to a prayer is not an impression demonstration of faith. So Elijah asked more of them to do what they should have done many years earlier-obey the Law of Jehovah. God's Law said that false prophets and idolaters should be put to death. (Deuteronomy 13:5-9) These Baal priests were committed enemies of Jehovah God, and they deliberately worked against his purposes. Did they deserve mercy? Well, what mercy had they ever granted to all those innocent children who were burned alive as sacrifices to Baal?  (Read Proverbs 21:13, Jeremiah 19:5) Those men were well beyond the reach of mercy! So Elijah ordered that they be executed, and executed they were. - 1 KINGS 18:40. 

Next time: The Answer - Conclusion

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