prophets and kings-第26章
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rest the movements of Elijah。
It is the hour of the evening sacrifice； and Elijah bids the people； 〃Come near unto me。〃 As they tremblingly draw near； he turns to the broken…down altar where once men worshiped the God of heaven； and repairs it。 To him this heap of ruins is more precious than all the magnificent altars of heathendom。
In the reconstruction of this ancient altar； Elijah revealed his respect for the covenant that the Lord made with Israel when they crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land。 Choosing 〃twelve stones； according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob； 。 。 。 he built an altar in the name of the Lord。〃
The disappointed priests of Baal； exhausted by their vain efforts； wait to see what Elijah will do。 They hate the prophet for proposing a test that has exposed the weakness and inefficiency of their gods； yet they fear his power。 The people； fearful also； and almost breathless with expectancy； watch while Elijah continues his preparations。 The calm demeanor of the prophet stands out in sharp contrast with the fanatical； senseless frenzy of the followers of Baal。
The altar completed； the prophet makes a trench about it； and； having put the wood in order and prepared the bullock； he lays the victim on the altar and commands the people to flood the sacrifice and the altar with water。 〃Fill four barrels；〃 he directed； 〃and pour it on the burnt sacrifice；
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and on the wood。 And he said； Do it the second time。 And they did it the second time。 And he said； Do it the third time。 And they did it the third time。 And the water ran round about the altar； and he filled the trench also with water。〃
Reminding the people of the long…continued apostasy that has awakened the wrath of Jehovah； Elijah calls upon them to humble their hearts and turn to the God of their fathers； that the curse upon the land of Israel may be removed。 Then； bowing reverently before the unseen God； he raises his hands toward heaven and offers a simple prayer。 Baal's priests have screamed and foamed and leaped； from early morning until late in the afternoon； but as Elijah prays； no senseless shrieks resound over Carmel's height。 He prays as if he knows Jehovah is there； a witness to the scene； a listener to his appeal。 The prophets of Baal have prayed wildly； incoherently。 Elijah prays simply and fervently； asking God to show His superiority over Baal； that Israel may be led to turn to Him。
〃Lord God of Abraham； Isaac； and of Israel；〃 the prophet pleads； 〃let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel； and that I am Thy servant； and that I have done all these things at Thy word。 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。〃
A silence； oppressive in its solemnity； rests upon all。 The priests of Baal tremble with terror。 Conscious of their guilt； they look for swift retribution。
No sooner is the prayer of Elijah ended than flames of
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fire； like brilliant flashes of lightning； descend from heaven upon the upreared altar； consuming the sacrifice； licking up the water in the trench； and consuming even the stones of the altar。 The brilliancy of the blaze illumines the mountain and dazzles the eyes of the multitude。 In the valleys below； where many are watching in anxious suspense the movements of those above； the descent of fire is clearly seen； and all are amazed at the sight。 It resembles the pillar of fire which at the Red Sea separated the children of Israel from the Egyptian host。
The people on the mount prostrate themselves in awe before the unseen God。 They dare not continue to look upon the Heaven…sent fire。 They fear that they themselves will be consumed； and； convicted of their duty to acknowledge the God of Elijah as the God of their fathers； to whom they owe allegiance； they cry out together as with one voice； 〃The Lord； He is the God； the Lord； He is the God。〃 With startling distinctness the cry resounds over the mountain and echoes in the plain below。 At last Israel is aroused； undeceived； penitent。 At last the people see how greatly they have dishonored God。 The character of Baal worship； in contrast with the reasonable service required by the true God； stands fully revealed。 The people recognize God's justice and mercy in withholding the dew and the rain until they have been brought to confess His name。 They are ready now to admit that the God of Elijah is above every idol。
The priests of Baal witness with consternation the wonderful revelation of Jehovah's power。 Yet even in their
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discomfiture and in the presence of divine glory； they refuse to repent of their evil…doing。 They would still remain the prophets of Baal。 Thus they showed themselves ripe for destruction。 That repentant Israel may be protected from the allurements of those who have taught them to worship Baal； Elijah is directed by the Lord to destroy these false teachers。 The anger of the people has already been aroused against the leaders in transgression； and when Elijah gives the command； 〃Take the prophets of Baal； let not one of them escape；〃 they are ready to obey。 They seize the priests； and take them to the brook Kishon； and there； before the close of the day that marked the beginning of decided reform； the ministers of Baal are slain。 Not one is permitted to live。
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Chapter 12
From Jezreel to Horeb
With the slaying of the prophets of Baal； the way was opened for carrying forward a mighty spiritual reformation among the ten tribes of the northern kingdom。 Elijah had set before the people their apostasy； he had called upon them to humble their hearts and turn to the Lord。 The judgments of Heaven had been executed； the people had confessed their sins； and had acknowledged the God of their fathers as the living God； and now the curse of Heaven was to be withdrawn； and the temporal blessings of life renewed。 The land was to be refreshed with rain。 〃Get thee up； eat and drink；〃 Elijah said to Ahab； 〃for there is a sound of abundance of rain。〃 Then the prophet went to the top of the mount to pray。
It was not because of any outward evidence that the showers were about to fall； that Elijah could so confidently bid Ahab prepare for rain。 The prophet saw no clouds in the heavens； he heard no thunder。 He simply spoke the
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word that the Spirit of the Lord had moved him to speak in response to his own strong faith。 Throughout the day he had unflinchingly performed the will of God and had revealed his implicit confidence in the prophecies of God's word； and now； having done all that was in his power to do； he knew that Heaven would freely bestow the blessings foretold。 The same God who had sent the drought had promised an abundance of rain as the reward of rightdoing； and now Elijah waited for the promised outpouring。 In an attitude of humility； 〃his face between his knees；〃 he interceded with God in behalf of penitent Israel。
Again and again Elijah sent his servant to a point overlooking the Mediterranean； to learn whether there were any visible token that God had heard his prayer。 Each time the servant returned with the word； 〃There is nothing。〃 The prophet did not become impatient or lose faith； but continued his earnest pleading。 Six times the servant returned with the word that there was no sign of rain in the brassy heavens。 Undaunted； Elijah sent him forth once more； and this time the servant returned with the word； 〃Behold； there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea like a man's hand。〃
This was enough。 Elijah did not wait for the heavens to gather blackness。 In that small cloud he beheld by faith an abundance of rain； and he acted in harmony with his faith； sending his servant quickly to Ahab with the message； 〃Prepare thy chariot； and get thee down； that the rain stop thee not。〃
It was because Elijah was a man of large faith that God could use him in this grave crisis in the history of Israel。
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As he praye
