The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-02-02

whom We viii serve Josh 2tR
TINE-Three 90 three and one-har
years after Euiah FIRST warnsd Ahab. Bs
tween " e gT.su cor ssbN1.
PLACE-Tho Great meeting was N
Mount Carmel near iis summit The ~
uation ~ far from the carata' would
| leave the meeting uumolested by ~ cit
hoodlums. and Jez'b,rs innruCo
ST James IN his epistle tells Ms that
Elijah had prayed earnestly mat 1T
might no, rain" because the famine
seemed to be the only way bs which
people could be brought 10 repentance.
and that now. al the end of three
years and half. he again prayed that
II might rain
His heart was full OF pity. lie saw
signs OF repentance Tho time was
ripe for reform. and Elijah prayed to
God for the blessed rain God saw
too But II was wiscst and most u
fective for all that the rain should
come from God IN answer to the proph-
cts prayer For the fact that the
relief came from the true God through
his prophet would complete the work
OF the famine and draw men TO the
I giver Of the blessing
Elijah sent for the king TO some 10
| him. The prophet was the create
and had more power That Ahab cam.
at all. shows that he recognized tho
power Of the prophet. and Of the true
God and that he had been humbled
/ by the famine experience. Arabs mrs.
words we're: Are thou he that trou.
bleth Israeli lie had no word 10 say
Of his own sin he forgo. the iniquiiy
Of the people OF the land. IN which
he had been the leader: he took no
note d the hand OF Jehovah IN the CO
lamlty. and spoke As n the whole mat.
| ter had been a mere personal differ.
ence between him and Elijah Elijah
replied. 4 have not troubled Israel
but thou. and thy fathers house" III
jah then proposed that the question a.
10 who was the true God should be
put TO fair and satisfactory test.
They built an ALTA. placed the sag.
rificial bullock upon II. and put no
/ IRE under g. There were too many eyes
upon them for any trickery. and not
| knowing wha; kind OF a test was 10 h.
expected. they had no opportunity 20
prepare for any deceit II would Al.
most seem as II tricks not unlike thai
pracuced year after year at the
Greek Easter NJ Jerusalem were IA
miliar 10 that age Some Of the "a.
theirs expressly state that the idols.
/ trous priests Of an earlier time were
accustomed 10 set fire to the sacri-
nee from hollow places concealed Be.
meath the altar. and II was an old ira
dition that the Baal prophets had con
cealed man for that purpose beneath
their altar. but that be had died from
surooation." They called on Baal I'm
mid day. and yet no answer Of fir.
came Elijah Knocked them. Tie held
up the mirror before them and point.
ed out To the people the real situation
They grew frenzied In their excite.
! ment. and cut themselves with their
wepons Herodian describes the dance
OF He,iogabalus round tho altar Of tn.
Emesne sun-god. and Apuieius DE-
scribes at length the fanatic leapings
and castings OF the execrable Gall
| Their feeling was that God was well
1 pleased with such tortures and pains
The only surerings with which God
is pleased are those which men under
20 for the sake Of helping and saw
ing their fellow men: such as Christs
sufferings on the cross. and Pauls
sufferings to give men the Gospel.
They prophesled and cried in wilo
| ecstacies. like those In ancient time
who thus In excited frenzies pretend
ed TO be filed with the power OF their
| deities.
There was no answer. though they
continued their exertions Till the time
OF the Offering OF the evening obiatiou.
And Elijah said Come near unto
| me" so that they could see and hear.
and could know that there was no con.
cealment or trickery.
He repaired the altar OF the LORD
that was broken down. On this altar
the wood and the sacrifice were laid
The FIRE OF the Lord fell. not an acct
dental stroke OF lightning. for the sky
was clear OF cloud. II was simply
the direct act OF Gods will upon The
laws OF nature. No mere natural act
such as Baalites or anyone else could
do. would prove that II was God him.
self who was summoning them to ODE
dience. H. would be q strange God
and Father. that could not use his
own laws OF Nature to produce
moral effect. The proof was the more
decisive because the divine FIRE no,
only consumed the Offering. but the
water and the very stones OF the al
tar
The people fell on their faces. ana
they said. The Lord. he 10 God, the
Lord. he Is God"
This was decisive. yet no mere
sudden change: but one for which the
famine, announced from God had for
three years been preparing them: Just
as the FIRE on the day Of Pentecost
came to disciples who had had three
years OF training under Jesus.
Elijah went up to the highest poin,
OF Carmel where q wide horizon Of the
sea Was visible. and prayed for rain.
prayed the effectual feryent PRAYER
sf . righteous man" which "availeth
much" lie sent his servant 10 watch
for the answer. Ind IL cane In abun-
i Hanf rain