God answered Elijah by sending fire from heaven that consumed the sacrifice and even licked up the water in the trenches.
On Mount Carmel, Elijah prepared a water-soaked sacrifice and challenged the prophets of Baal to call down fire on their own sacrifice, but their god never answered. When Elijah prayed to the LORD, fire fell and licked up the water from the trenches, proving that Jehovah is the God of Israel.
1 Kings 18:38 — This is the direct answer to the question: the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice and licked up the water in the trench.
1 Kings 18:39 — This verse records the people's response when they saw the fire: they declared, 'The LORD, he is the God.'
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah gathered the people and the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel and challenged them to stop wavering between two opinions. The prophets of Baal called on their god, but there was no answer, no voice, and no fire. Then Elijah prayed to the LORD, and the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, 'The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.' Elijah then commanded that the prophets of Baal be taken, and they were killed at the brook Kishon.
Les takes his students through the Mount Carmel confrontation as a turning point in Israel's history. He explains that Ahab and Jezebel had been promoting Baal worship, and Elijah had already brought a three-year drought; still Ahab and Jezebel would not change. Elijah then gathered the Israelites and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, where he had the sacrifices soaked and the trenches filled with water—water was brought from the nearby Mediterranean Sea. The prophets of Baal cried out, and Elijah taunted them, telling them to yell louder because their god was sleeping, but nothing happened. Then Elijah called on Jehovah, and fire came down and consumed the sacrifice and literally licked the water out of the trenches. Les calls this a genuine supernatural event. It proved to Israel that Jehovah was still the God of Israel and brought Israel an awakening. Elijah also demanded that the prophets of Baal be killed, and they were. Yet when Jezebel sent word that Elijah would be dead by the next day, this same Elijah ran in fear all the way to Mount Sinai, sat under a juniper tree, and asked God to take his life. God told him there was a remnant of 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal.
Les says Elijah had the sacrifices soaked and the little trench around the altar filled with water. The Mediterranean Sea was close by, so the water was easy to get. This made the coming miracle undeniable: when God's fire fell, it not only burned the sacrifice but licked the water out of the trench.
Les recounts that Elijah demanded that the prophets of Baal be killed, and they were. Then a messenger took the news to Jezebel at Jezreel, and she sent back a threat that Elijah would be dead by the next day. Even after seeing God's miracle, Elijah was suddenly afraid.
Les says that after Jezebel's threat, Elijah ran about 150 miles south to Mount Sinai. When he finally stopped under a juniper tree, he asked God to take his life, saying he was the only one left. God's answer was that there was a remnant of 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal.
Les emphasizes that supernatural acts were commonplace in God's dealings with Israel. The fire from heaven on Carmel was a visible demonstration of God's power, and it gave Israel an awakening. Yet the fact that Elijah fled immediately afterward shows how quickly even those who had seen the supernatural could fall into unbelief.
The Supernatural Is Commonplace in Israel's History
Les sets the context: when God deals with Israel, the supernatural is commonplace, so the fire on Mount Carmel fits that pattern of visible divine intervention.
God Answers Elijah by Fire
Les explains that when Elijah called on Jehovah, fire came down and consumed the sacrifice and licked up the water from the trenches, proving Jehovah was still the God of Israel.
The Challenge on Mount Carmel
Les describes how Elijah prepared the altar, soaked the sacrifices, filled the trenches with water, and taunted the prophets of Baal to call louder because their gods were sleeping—yet nothing happened.
God's Supernatural Fire from Heaven
Les shows that Elijah called down fire from heaven that licked up the water and the sacrifices, demonstrating a supernatural event that brought Israel an awakening.
Elijah Fears Jezebel's Threat
Les explains that after the victory on Mount Carmel, Jezebel's threat caused Elijah to run all the way to Mount Sinai, where he asked God to take his life.
Drought and Gathering at Mount Carmel
Les describes the context: Ahab and Jezebel promoted Baal worship, Elijah caused a three-year drought, and then he gathered Israel and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
Elijah's Flight to Mount Sinai
Les emphasizes that even after the tremendous miracle and the execution of Baal's prophets, Elijah ran about 150 miles to Mount Sinai and wanted to die, thinking he was the only one left.
The Remnant of 7,000
Les recalls that after Elijah fled and said he was the only one left, God told him there were 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal—showing God always preserves a remnant.
1 Kings 18:21: And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Elijah's opening challenge sets the stage for the public confrontation on Mount Carmel.
1 Kings 18:38: Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
This is the central event: God answered by fire and even consumed the water in the trench.
1 Kings 18:39: And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
The people's response confirms that the miracle proved the LORD is the true God.
1 Kings 18:40: And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
After the fire from heaven, Elijah had the prophets of Baal put to death.
1 Kings 19:18: Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
God's answer to Elijah's despair shows that a faithful remnant remained in Israel.
No. Les recounts that Elijah taunted them to yell louder, saying their gods were sleeping, but nothing happened and no fire came down. Their pagan gods had no power to answer the challenge.
Fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice and licked up the water from the trenches. Les says this proved to Israel that Jehovah was still the God of Israel.
Jezebel sent word that Elijah would be dead by the next day. Even after the miracle, Elijah ran in fear to Mount Sinai, sat under a juniper tree, and asked God to take his life.
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