A drought strikes the land for three years-punishment for Israel’s many sins. King Ahab and Obadiah, his palace administrator, set out to find food. Elijah meets Obadiah and tells him that he wants to speak with his master so as to inform him of the reason for the drought. In the meantime, Ahab’s wife, Queen Jezebel, kills the prophets of the Lord and Ahab accuses Elijah of causing the drought. In turn, Elijah says it is actually the king’s sins and idolatry that have brought about the ongoing calamity. Ahab’s failure to acknowledge the true source of blessing in the world has elicited God’s punishment.
Elijah orders that the people of Israel gather on Mount Carmel so that the true reason for the drought may be revealed to all. The prophets of Baal are likewise summoned. They fervently ask their god to burn the bull they have placed on the altar-yet nothing happens. Elijah then repairs the destroyed altar of the Lord, digs a trench around it, pours water on it, and prays. Suddenly, fire comes down from the sky and burns the sacrifice. The people exclaim: “The Lord is the one God.” Both King Ahab and all the tribes of Israel have witnessed the true source of power in the world.
“and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered” (1 Kings 18:26)
“And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he isthe God; the LORD, he is the God” (1 Kings 18:39)
Gratitude and appreciation for everything, even when especially difficult or challenging, is the only way to reveal blessings.
