1 Kings 18

The Lord intended to send rain again upon the land of Israel, but that rain would only come according to His own Word through His servant Elijah. Even those who believed in the Lord, like Ahab's servant, Obadiah, found it hard to imagine that this trouble would ever come to a good end. But God's plans even for the disobedient northern kingdom involved a future time of refreshment.

Ahab could not see it. He addressed Elijah as the “troubler of Israel.” But it was Ahab, the idolatrous king of Israel, who had brought trouble upon the land.

Rain would come again after a great contest between the Lord God and the false gods worshiped and supported by Ahab and Jezebel. Elijah issued the Lord's challenge directly to the people of Israel who had assembled to witness this battle between gods. How long would the people go “limping” between one religious system and another? The true God needed to be obeyed. Was Baal a true god? If so, he needed to prove it by responding by fire from heaven.

When the prophets of Baal did all that they could to bring about that result, nothing happened. Then Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes of Israel, and built a simple altar to the Lord. Why twelve? God remembered all twelve of the tribes, and He would show His abiding concern for them by answering from heaven according to the Word of His prophet. The Lord displayed that He was real and that He cared about Israel that day. The people saw with their own eyes and responded, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”

God had not abandoned them, but He would bring His vengeance against the false prophets who deceived His people. Once this contest was completed, Elijah prayed earnestly for rain, and the Lord heard his prayer. (James 5:17-18) God had vindicated His own Name in the sight of many.

It is not safe to abandon the Lord and to follow false gods. We need to hear the Son of God and receive His good gifts. He has water from heaven for all who will receive it. That water comes forth from the Father and the Son because of the victory that the Son of God has accomplished for us in His death and resurrection.

The wrath of God that we deserved came down upon the Lord Jesus. But God has remembered His people and displayed His glory in the resurrection of His Son. The Lord has forgiven all who will hear His voice and follow Jesus.