Laodicean Church
261
descends, they witness it and are amazed at the sight. It resembles the
pillar of fire at the Red Sea, which by night separated the children of
Israel from the Egyptian host.
The people upon the mountain prostrate themselves in terror and
awe before the unseen God. They cannot look upon the bright consum-
ing fire sent from heaven. They fear that they will be consumed in their
apostasy and sins, and cry out with one voice, which resounds over
the mountain and echoes to the plains below with terrible distinctness:
“The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God.” Israel is at last
aroused and undeceived. They see their sin and how greatly they have
dishonored God. Their anger is aroused against the prophets of Baal.
With terror, Ahab and Baal’s priests witness the wonderful exhibition
of Jehovah’s power. Again the voice of Elijah is heard in startling
words of command to the people: “Take the prophets of Baal; let not
one of them escape.” The people are ready to obey his word. They
seize the false prophets who have deluded them, and bring them to
[286]
the brook Kishon, and there, with his own hand, Elijah slays these
idolatrous priests.
The judgments of God having been executed upon the false priests,
the people having confessed their sins and acknowledged their fathers’
God, the withering curse of God is now to be withdrawn, and He is to
renew His blessings unto His people and again refresh the earth with
dew and rain.
Elijah addresses Ahab: “Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is
a sound of abundance of rain.” While Ahab went up to feast, Elijah
went up from the fearful sacrifice to the top of Mount Carmel to pray.
His work of slaying the pagan priests had not unfitted him for the
solemn exercise of prayer. He had performed the will of God. After
he had, as God’s instrument, done what he could to remove the cause
of Israel’s apostasy by slaying the idolatrous priests, he could do no
more. He then intercedes in behalf of sinning, apostate Israel. In
the most painful position, his face bowed between his knees, he most
earnestly supplicates God to send rain. Six times in succession he
sends his servant to see if there is any visible token that God has heard
his prayer. He does not become impatient and faithless because the
Lord does not immediately give the token that his prayer is heard. He
continues in earnest prayer, sending his servant seven times to see if
God has granted any signal. His servant returns the sixth time from