Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. 1 Kings 18:38
The Story
Soon after King Solomon, the kingdom is divided in two: The kingdom of Israel ruled by Jeroboam and the kingdom of Judah ruled by Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. [1]
Elijah was a prophet in Israel a little over 60 years later during King Ahab’s reign. He predicted that there would be a drought that would last many years.
During this time, the Lord provided Elijah with a brook for water and ravens to bring him food. Then Elijah stayed at a widow’s house, and her jar of flour and jug of oil never ran out, so they always had food. [2]
Finally, Elijah came back to Ahab and proposed a contest: The god of Baal against the God of Israel. The prophets of Baal would sacrifice on an altar, and the prophet of the God of Israel would sacrifice on an altar, and whichever God lit the altar is the true God.
The prophets of Baal prayed to their god, but nothing happened. When it was Elijah’s turn, he requested that water be poured over the altar three times.
Elijah prayed to God, and fire came down from the sky, consuming the sacrifice, the wood, and even the water that had pooled around the altar. The people immediately turned and worshiped the true God.
Then God brought rain, ending the prolonged drought. [3]
The Significance
Elijah was instrumental in turning the people of Israel back to God. It was later prophesied by the prophet Malachi that Elijah would come again before the day of the Lord. This prophecy was fulfilled in John the Baptist, who, having the spirit and power of Elijah, prepared the way for Jesus. [4]
[1] 1 Kings 12:16-20 [2] 1 Kings 17; [3] 1 Kings 18 [4] Malachi 3:1, 4:5, Matthew 11:7-14, Luke 1:17, Isaiah 40:3