Elijah had challenged the people to shoes whether they would follow the Lord or Baal. They did not answer so Elijah knew it was time to do something to help out them decide.
So he set up a contest between himself and the 450 prophets of Baal. They would join together and pray to Baal and Elijah alone would pray to the Lord. Whoever sent down fire to burn up the sacrifice would prove Himself as God.
The 450 prophets of Baal went first. They cried out to Baal all morning. They tried everything. The cut themselves and jumped around and still nothing. As time went by Elijah began to mock them and their god. ‘Is he taking a nap? Has he gone for a walk? Where is he?’
And then Elijah steps all alone and talks to His God, but more about that anon.
What I want to look at today is the courage that Elijah has now. Never mind what is coming later, but at this point he goes head to head with 450 false prophets. How did he do that? From where did he summon the strength and the courage?
Elijah could stand alone against all the false prophets because He knew that His God was alive and that Baal could not answer their prayers.
We certainly live in a day when we too are outnumbered. It takes great courage and faith to stand in a day when there may be many situations where we are the only ones who will.
Are we up to the challenge?
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