A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: THE RUNAWAY PROPHET P/17

 

                                   

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                    THE RUNAWAY PROPHET

                                 PART XVII 

"I, Elijah, the prophet of God, had prepared the altar with a cut up bull... I then had water poured over it so it was completely drenched.... I then prayed to my God.... I prayed a very simple prayer... Moreover, I did nothing else... I did not give a performance as the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal had done...For I knew that one simple prayer would be sufficient for my God to respond....So I prayed that the people of Israel would know that day that God is the God of Israel and that I am His servant... I then waited... It did not take too long before God's answer came... It came in the form of fire from heaven... And everyone saw what the fire did... It completely swallowed up the sacrifice and the wood... Moreover, it swallowed up the stones and the soil....Even the water in the trench was swallowed up."....Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn how God responds to the prayer of the prophet Elijah... 

 

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                       THE RUNAWAY PROPHET

                                                                    PART XVII 

The prophet Elijah turns to prayer knowing that it is only God who can do what no man or false god can do as you can read in I Kings 18:36-38

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 that 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 and that You are turning their hearts back again." 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.

Elijah does not need to follow the example of the prophets of Baal to try and attract the attention of his God by shouting, dancing around the altar or even slashing himself with a sword or a spear. No, he just prays a simple but powerful prayer and God hears his prayer and answers by sending fire on the altar.