Over three years had passed since Elijah previously told King Ahab that there would be neither rain nor dew until he gave the word. “You have abandoned God’s commands and followed Baal.” Now, call a meeting of the Israelites and the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah for a meeting on top of Mount Carmel.”
At the meeting, Elijah stood in front of the people and said, “Decide who you are going to follow…God or Baal. But, the people remained speechless. Elijah continued, “Get two bulls for us! Let Baal’s prophets choose one and cut it into pieces and put it onto the wood but don’t set fire to it. I’ll prepare the other bull but not set fire to it. Then Baal’s prophet are to call on their god, and I will call on God. The god who answers by fire—He is God. The people agreed.
After a day of the prophets of Baal calling on their god, with no result, Elijah prepared his sacrifice by pouring water on the bull and the wood, three times until the water was running in a trench around the altar. Then Elijah asked God to display to the people that He is God. God answered with fire that burned up the sacrifice, the wood, and stones and licked up the water in the trench. Following this, the people slaughtered the prophets of Baal and Asherah. [Reflection based on the Bible Reference 1 Kings 18:16-40]