When it comes time to decide whose god is the real God, Elijah gives the prophets of Baal as many advantages as he can, so they can't complain of unfairness when Baal loses... and to show the people who the real, living God is! God demands undivided allegiance to himself alone.

Elijah mocks the prophets as they try to get "Baal" to answer them. Then they cut themselves bloody in a last ditch effort to bring forth Baal, trying to stir up enough fervency to get him to respond... But Baal doesn't exist!

Christians can fall into this trap of manufacturing fervency to get God to act, so make sure your fervency in asking him to move is on his terms! God cannot be manipulated. God is not waiting for you to pray louder!

In the Old Testament, God's reason for animal sacrifice was because the wages of sin is death. The burnt offering was a substitute. The fire from heaven that God sends ONLY strikes the sacrifice, not the people-- He is merciful!!! We deserve the fireball... But God only burns the sacrifice, the substitute: his only begotten son, Jesus.

Elijah then immediately orders the people to slaughter the 450 prophets of Baal. The same applies to us: when we are saved, we need to repent of our sin... put our sins to death, cast aside every worthless thing!

Elijah heads out to Jezreel AHEAD of Ahab... so, faster than his horses! Though this chapter started with Ahab looking for water for his horses, it ends with Elijah showing Israel's true strength is not in its military might (the strength of its horses and chariots) but in its allegiance to the one true God!

If you have peace with God, it means every ounce of your sin has been burned up by the sacrificial fire. We are filled with the Spirit of God! As his children, we've been given direct access to the one true God.

You need not fear Baal; Baal's followers should fear YOU!