DAY 14
ELIJAH & THE BIG FIRE
All the people saw it. Then they fell down flat with their faces toward the ground. They cried out, “The Lord is the one and only God! The Lord is the one and only God!”
-1 Kings 18:39
REFLECT
During the days of the kings of Israel, the nation was ruled by many leaders who disobeyed God. Only a few kings were faithful, and the people often followed the destructive example set by the disobedient kings. To guide His people back to Himself, God sent messengers called prophets. One of these prophets was Elijah, who lived during the reign of a wicked king named Ahab. King Ahab did evil in the eyes of the Lord and led the people to worship idols, including a false god named Baal. This idolatry deeply angered God.
At that time, the land was suffering from a severe drought, and everyone was desperate for water. God sent Elijah to confront King Ahab and the people with a bold message: “Stop praying to Baal and turn your hearts back to God!” But the king and his followers refused to listen. So Elijah proposed a challenge to reveal who the true God really was.
Elijah built an altar of stones and placed wood on it. He then challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal to do the same. Both sides would pray for their god to send fire from heaven to consume the offering. The prophets of Baal built their altar and prayed loudly from morning until noon, but nothing happened. Baal remained silent.
Then Elijah prepared his altar using twelve stones, placed wood on it, and even poured water over the entire altar until everything was soaking wet. After that, Elijah prayed to the Lord. Immediately, God sent fire from heaven that consumed not only the offering but also the wood, the stones, and even the water in the trench surrounding it.
This powerful display left King Ahab and the prophets of Baal stunned. The people turned their hearts back to the one true God. Immediately afterward, God sent a heavy rain to end the drought and bring relief to the land.
Through this incredible moment, God revealed His power and drew His people back to Himself, even softening the heart of King Ahab. Despite the widespread disobedience of that time, God was faithfully working, preparing the way for Jesus to one day come through these very people. Just as God redirected the hearts of Israel, Jesus would come to turn the hearts of all God’s people back to Him forever.
DISCUSSION
Can you think of something in your life that might getting in the way of following God? What is it?
How do we make sure we are following God even if the people around us aren’t?
PRAY
Thank You, God, that You are the one true God. Thank you that you are in charge of the world and nothing is too difficult for you. Thank you for reminding us of that and listening when we pray.
FAMILY ACTIVITY
Watch a Christmas movie together. If you have access, you could watch the movie The Star and remind your children that God is the one true God.
All the people saw it. Then they fell down flat with their faces toward the ground. They cried out, “The Lord is the one and only God! The Lord is the one and only God!”
-1 Kings 18:39
REFLECT
During the days of the kings of Israel, the nation was ruled by many leaders who disobeyed God. Only a few kings were faithful, and the people often followed the destructive example set by the disobedient kings. To guide His people back to Himself, God sent messengers called prophets. One of these prophets was Elijah, who lived during the reign of a wicked king named Ahab. King Ahab did evil in the eyes of the Lord and led the people to worship idols, including a false god named Baal. This idolatry deeply angered God.
At that time, the land was suffering from a severe drought, and everyone was desperate for water. God sent Elijah to confront King Ahab and the people with a bold message: “Stop praying to Baal and turn your hearts back to God!” But the king and his followers refused to listen. So Elijah proposed a challenge to reveal who the true God really was.
Elijah built an altar of stones and placed wood on it. He then challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal to do the same. Both sides would pray for their god to send fire from heaven to consume the offering. The prophets of Baal built their altar and prayed loudly from morning until noon, but nothing happened. Baal remained silent.
Then Elijah prepared his altar using twelve stones, placed wood on it, and even poured water over the entire altar until everything was soaking wet. After that, Elijah prayed to the Lord. Immediately, God sent fire from heaven that consumed not only the offering but also the wood, the stones, and even the water in the trench surrounding it.
This powerful display left King Ahab and the prophets of Baal stunned. The people turned their hearts back to the one true God. Immediately afterward, God sent a heavy rain to end the drought and bring relief to the land.
Through this incredible moment, God revealed His power and drew His people back to Himself, even softening the heart of King Ahab. Despite the widespread disobedience of that time, God was faithfully working, preparing the way for Jesus to one day come through these very people. Just as God redirected the hearts of Israel, Jesus would come to turn the hearts of all God’s people back to Him forever.
DISCUSSION
Can you think of something in your life that might getting in the way of following God? What is it?
How do we make sure we are following God even if the people around us aren’t?
PRAY
Thank You, God, that You are the one true God. Thank you that you are in charge of the world and nothing is too difficult for you. Thank you for reminding us of that and listening when we pray.
FAMILY ACTIVITY
Watch a Christmas movie together. If you have access, you could watch the movie The Star and remind your children that God is the one true God.