The famous contest on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal began with a question Elijah addressed to the people of Israel: “How long,” he asked, “will you go on limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him” (I Kings 18:21). It is a worthy question for every age.

The terms of the contest would be this. Elijah would have a bull to offer to the Lord, and the prophets of Baal would have a bull to offer to Baal: and “the god who answers with fire is indeed God” (18:24). The prophets of Baal went first, preparing their offering and crying out to Baal, chanting and gashing themselves to make themselves bleed: but though they did this from morning till mid-afternoon, there was no result (18:28-29). Meanwhile, Elijah offered them helpful encouragement, urging them to call louder to wake up Baal, in case he was asleep; or to call him back to Mount Carmel, in case he had set out on a journey to some other place (18:27).

Then it was Elijah’s turn. He repaired the altar of the Lord; then he laid the wood and the pieces of the bull upon it. Next he instructed the bystanders to get four large jars of water, and pour it over his offering; indeed, he had them do this twice, and then a third time, so that everything was well drenched (18:34).

Then Elijah prayed. He did indeed ask for vindication for himself as the servant of the Lord, but especially he asked on behalf of the gathered people: “Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and have turned their hearts back” (18:37). Then the fire of the Lord fell from heaven and completely consumed the offering, even licking up the water in the trench around the altar. The demonstration was about knowledge – knowing that the Lord is God – but especially it was about people’s hearts being turned back to faithfulness once again.

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Help us, Lord. We are just as prone to hobbling first on one leg and then on the other, hesitating between your way and the way of the world around us. Turn our hearts back to you – with astonishing miracles, or with a still small voice – so that we may know with confidence and joy that you are the Lord, forever and ever.