Elijah and the prophets of Baal

“Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You are turning their hearts back again.” 1 Kings 18:37
The showdown between Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel is one of the great Bible stories. In a time when the people of Israel had been turned away from God because of wicked king Ahab and his wife Jezebel, Elijah stood up for the Lord.
We all know the story: how Elijah and the prophets each built an altar, placed a bull on it for an offering, and agreed that whichever god answered by sending fire from heaven, was the true God. The prophets of Baal cried out all day long, but nothing happened. Then Elijah called for his own altar to be doused with water, before he called on the Lord, who of course answered by sending fire from heaven, burning up the bull and the wood even through it was thoroughly wet.
Elijah had no doubt that God would answer his prayer. He prays that God would do this so that the people would know that He is God. The people he has in view here are the Israelites who had been led astray. While the prophets of Baal would also know that the Lord is God when He did this, it would be too late for them to change sides.
We read of this motivation for many of God’s awesome works: that the people would know that He is God. The restoration of Israel (Joel 2:27), and their deliverance from the invading army of the north (Ezek. 38:23) are two such examples. Similarly in the end times: we read how every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:10-11). Not everyone will be saved, but every knee will bow. There won’t be a second chance to accept Christ when we are standing before Him – that decision has to have already been made.