Challenge of the Gods

Religious poetry

Three years of no rain

And famine in the land

A contest to be held

A test

Between the prophets of Ba’al and Asherah

And Adonai  

At Mount Carmel they gathered

Two bulls were given

To be sacrificed

One to Ba’al

One to the Lord

The challenge?

Which will rain down fire

And accept their offering

The prophets of Ba’al

Called upon their god

Crying aloud

Dancing

And slicing their flesh

All morning they they called out

At noon they cried for his blessing

Their blood pouring from their bodies

By midday they raved

But there was no answer from their god

“Perhaps he sleeps,” said Elijah

The last prophet of Adonai

“Come to me,” he told Isra’el

They gathered to Elijah

Who had taken twelve stones

The number of the Tribes

And made a trench about his altar

“Fill four jars with water,” he commanded

“Pour it about the offering, cover the wood!”

He ordered this one

Twice

And a third time

Twelve jars of water in all

Until the offering and wood were drenched

And the trench was filled with water

“Adonai!”

“God of Abraham, Isaac, and Isra’el,” Elijah prayed

“Let it be known that You are the God in Isra’el!”
The fire of Adonai fell from the skies

Consuming not only the wet offering

But the wood, and stones, and dust

Lapping up the water from the very trench

Until nothing was left

And the people cried out to the Lord

Praising Adonai

The prophets of Ba’al seized

Slaughtered at Kishon

Elijah went back to Mount Carmel

Bowing to Adonai

Telling his servant to look toward the sea

There was nothing there, six times

But the seventh there was a cloud

Rising from the sea

Until the skies grew black

Clouds

Wind

And a great rain fell

Blessing the land of Isra’el

Reviews

[tumi]

a great bible story to remember
showing the power of the most high over every other gods
finely written