5 April | Teens
«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….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.» 1 Kings 18: 38,39
There was a time when the people of Israel were not following God, but worshipping idols called Baal. Then the prophet Elijah challenged the king to gather all the tribes of Israel and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel for a great test. They would find out who the true God was: the God of Israel or Baal.
Thousands of people gathered to see. The challenge was simple: each group would build an altar and ask their God to send fire from heaven. The God who answered with fire would be the true God. The prophets of Baal tried first, but nothing happened, even after many hours. Elijah began to mock them. When it was his turn, he said a quick prayer asking God to show that He was the true God. And guess what? “Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.”
It was an incredible moment that no one there would ever forget. God is a God of miracles, as we have seen in today's story. He still does wonderful things that make us say, just like the people of Israel on Mount Carmel, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”
Take Action
Build your own altar using toy bricks or other toys. Meanwhile, think about how God responded to Elijah and how He can answer your prayers as well. This altar will be a fun and visual reminder of God's power and the miracles He does.