ELIJAH: 450 VS. 1
(Based on I Kings 18:16-40)
The Israelites turned away from God,
In the days of Jezebel.
So Elijah, the prophet, said to them,
“Follow God, or follow Baal.”
But his words were met with silence,
For the people couldn’t decide.
God sent Elijah to prove to them,
That in God they should abide.
Elijah challenged Baal’s prophets,
To see whose god was a liar.
Each god would be offered a sacrifice;
The real one would answer by fire.
Four hundred fifty prophets of Baal,
Were pitted against only one.
But when that one was sent from God,
The contest was already won.
The idol’s prophets went first;
Their god they began to hound.
They begged from morning ‘til noon,
But they never heard a sound.
Thinking it would help to dance,
They danced themselves into a tizzy.
But still they got no answer;
All they got was dizzy.
Elijah began to heckle them,
“Shout louder,” he repeatedly said.
“Baal may be busy or deep in thought,
On a trip, or even in bed.”
Baal’s prophets shouted louder;
They slashed themselves with swords.
Midday passed and they prophesied on,
Just waiting for Baal’s rewards.
Then Elijah called to God's people,
Once the altar had been repaired.
He may have preached a sermon, too,
While the sacrifice was prepared.
One stone was placed for each tribe,
On the spot where the old altar stood.
A trench was dug, the bull cut up,
Then the pieces were laid on the wood.
Four large jars of water,
Were poured on the wood and bull.
They did this three times over;
Even the trench was full.
Then came the time of sacrifice,
So, Elijah stepped forward to pray.
“God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
Make yourself known today!!”
When fire came down from heaven,
The wood, bull, and stones all burned.
It licked up the water in the trench,
And the hearts of the people turned.
The false prophets lost their lives;
They had listened to Baal’s silent voice.
Since Baal couldn’t make a puff of smoke,
God became the people’s choice.
Becky Overturf Wall
