Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. 1 Kings 18:37-39
This is from the time of Ahab and Jezebel, when she sought to slew the prophets of God and Elijah called the prophets of Baal to a standoff. They, the prophets of Baal and the prophets of Elijah, went to the Mount Carmel and built an altar. Elijah said, and call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. 1 Kings 18:24
Ahab, and especially Jezebel, were angry at Elijah because he had prophesied that there would be no rain. Jezebel was certain that if she killed the prophets of God that that would take care of the lack of rain problem, not understanding that these prophets, including Elijah had no way to stop the rain on their own.
They were speaking of an act of God and she didn’t see it that way. She blamed the prophets, blind to the power of God.
People love to blame the prophets, but the prophets have no power without God. King Ahab said, And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 1 Kings 18:17
And Elijah answered him: And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim. 1 Kings 18:18
The problem was their refusal to worship the Lord and their desire to worship Baal. The Lord, who had the power to cut off rain, was the One who cut off the rain.
Don’t shoot the messenger.
They always do. Rather than reconciling themselves to God, making peace with Him, acknowledging that He is the Lord, they do not understand that there really is a God even when the proof is in front of their face. They want to shut those up who represent Him or those who speak His word. Still happens today.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse Romans 1:20
A baby developing in the womb is a good example.
This story is a reminder of God’s awesome power and purpose. He allows things to happen so that people will realize His awesome, wonderous power and worship Him who is worthy. We will see more of this as the days go on and as we draw closer to the end of time. The Latter Rain is on the way. Many will listen and some will not.
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things. Joel 2:21
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: Joel 2:29-32a