When the Fire of the LORD Falls

At the time of the sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God.”

1 Kings 18:36-37

The key to your story is the size of your God ladies. Oh, not that you can diminish God in any way. But how big is He in your eyes? Elijah had an inkling. You would too if God had hidden you by a brook and ordered ravens to feed you (17:4). And what if you then were witness to the daily multiplication of a widow’s meager supply of flour and oil to sustain all three of you (17:16), plus the miraculous return to life of her son (17:22)? 

Seems the people of God in Elijah’s time had no clue though. As Elijah had told King Ahab: “You have abandoned the LORD‘s commands and have followed the Baals” (18:18). It all began with rule number one: “I am the LORD your God…You shall have no other gods before me” (Deuteronomy 5:7). By this time the One and Only had been relegated to the sidelines, one of many gods. 

And so the stage was set. The 950 prophets of Baal and Asherah were summoned (18:19) to prepare their bull for the sacrifice. From morning till noon till evening they called on Baal to light the fire, to no avail (18:22-29).  

Not to be daunted, Elijah repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins (18:30), set the sacrifice, and had the audacity to pour copious amounts of water over it all (18:33-35). He then stepped back and let God do what only God could do. 

When 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 (18:38), the people worshipped: “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!” (18:39). To God be the glory!

What happens ladies when the impossible comes your way? Is your God big enough for you to step back, let the fire of the LORD fall, and give Him the glory?   

Nancy P

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV 1973,1978,1984, unless otherwise noted.