God has used fire throughout history to execute his wrath against sinful people. In fact, the Bible records at least six times where God sent fire from heaven. One of the most famous times was in His judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah. After allowing Lot and his family to be rescued, God sent fire from the heavens to devour these cities. But did you know there is a story in the Bible where a man called down fire from the heavens?
Backstory: Elijah was a simple man, living a simple life in the desert. Like most of the prophets, Elijah did not set out to be a messenger for God, God selected him. Elijah quickly obeyed God's call even if it appeared he was going on a suicide mission. God's orders were this, Go to the capital city of Samaria and deliver a message of judgement to King Ahab. Now it had been over a hundred years since David had ruled Israel and Ahab was the most wicked king yet. Scripture records that Ahab did more to anger God than all the kings that had come before him. Evil and wickedness filled the land, most of the people swore allegiance to the false gods of Cannanite and God-fearing people were hard to find.
In this climate marched Elijah to King Ahab's palace to deliver God's message. "As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word." (1 Kings 17:1) This message did not go over well as you can imagine. The threats against Elijah were so great that God sent Elijah into hiding. King Ahab and all his officials were furious with Elijah, blaming him for the suffering in Israel; and they hunted for him deep in foreign lands.
Then came the day where God commanded Elijah to reappear before the King and deliver another message. (This would really have tested my obedience and devotion as self-preservation would have probably been a higher calling than obeying God. But not Elijah, history records that he immediately obeyed and appeared before King Ahab.) The King could not believe that Elijah himself had appeared in his palace. "Is that you, O troubler of Israel?" said the King. Elijah responded, "I am not the one who has brought this judgement upon Israel, you and your father's house have, you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and followed Baal." But God wasn't through with Elijah yet. He had Elijah challenge the prophets of Baal to a contest with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah on nearby Mount Carmel. The outcome would determine who served the true God.
Elijah started the contest, "I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are 450 men. How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if it's Baal, follow him." Elijah let the prophets of Baal go first. The contest was simple, each side would pray to their god to send down fire and consume an animal sacrifice. The sun beat down as the prophets of Baal implored their god to send fire from the heavens. Elijah taunted them saying, "Maybe Baal is asleep, or on a trip, or maybe he can't hear you and you need to shout a little louder." By the end of the afternoon the prophets of Baal were exhausted, bloody and hoarse. No response from Baal.
Shaking his head Elijah repaired the altar to God that had been destroyed using large stones. He then placed wood on the stones, and the offering, a bull, on top of the wood. The people were ready to see if Elijah's God would be able to answer the challenge. But Elijah wasn't ready. "Bring four jars of water," he commanded. "Make it wet?" the people responded, "It won't burn." Elijah was insistent and the people poured the water over the offering. It ran upon the wood and filled a trench at the base of the altar. Then Elijah prayed, "Lord, let it be know this day that You are the One True God. Answer me so that these people may know you are God, and that You have turned their hearts back." Instantly fire fell from heaven. It consumed the offering, the wood, the stones and even the water in the trench. The people of Israel fell down, faces to the ground. "The Lord is the one and only God!" they called out. Elijah quickly ordered all the prophets of Baal to be captured and killed for their rebellion against the One True God. This action did not go over well with Ahab's wife . . .
Elijah was a man of flesh and blood, like you and me. A man who obeyed God to the point of death. A man who prayed for the heavens to be shut up and not deliver rain and God honored his request. Then he called for God to send fire from the heavens and God delivered fire as Elijah had requested. Elijah, a simple man of great faith, courage and devotion. May it be so of us.
