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In point of fact the service commenced between two and three p.m. It must have been
about the same time when Elijah began the simple yet solemn preparations for his
sacrifice. Turning from the frantic priests to the astonished people, he bade them
draw nigh. They must gather around him, not only in order to be convinced that no
deception was practiced, but to take part with him, as it were, in the service. And
once more Israel was to appear as the Israel of old in happier times, undivided in
nationality as in allegiance to Jehovah. This was the meaning of his restoring the
broken place of former pious worship by rolling to it twelve of the large pieces of
rock that strewed the ground, according to the number of the tribes. And as he built
the altar, he consecrated it by prayer: "in the name of Jehovah." Next, the soft
crumbling calcareous soil around the altar was dug into a deep and wide trench. Then
the wood, and upon it the pieces of the sacrifice were laid in due order. And now, at
the prophet's bidding, willing hands filled the pitchers from the well close by.^12
Once, twice, thrice he poured the water over the sacrifices, till it ran down into the
trench, which he also filled. This, as we suppose, not merely to show the more
clearly that the fire, which consumed the sacrifice in such circumstances, was sent
from heaven, but also for symbolic reasons, as if to indicate that Israel's penitent
confession was poured upon the offering.
And now a solemn silence fell on the assembly. The sun was going down, a globe of
fire, behind Carmel, and covered it with purple glow. It was the time of the evening
sacrifice. But Jehovah, not Elijah, would do the miracle; the Hand of the living God
Himself must be stretched out. Once more it was prayer which moved that Hand.
Such prayer was not heard before - so calm, so earnest, so majestic, so assured, so
strong. Elijah appeared in it as only the servant of Jehovah, and all that he had
previously done as only at His Word: but Jehovah was the covenant-God, the God of
Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, manifesting Himself as of old as the Living and
True, as Elohim in Israel: the conversion of Israel to Him as their God being the great
object sought for.^13
He had said it, and, as when first the Tabernacle was consecrated (Leviticus 9:24), or
as when King Solomon (1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1) brought the first
offering in the Temple which he had reared to Jehovah, so now the fire of Jehovah
leaped from heaven, consumed the sacrifice and the wood, enwrapped and burnt up
the limestone rocks of which the altar was constructed, and with burning tongue
licked up even the water that was in the trench. One moment of solemn silence, when
all who had seen it fell in awe-stricken worship on their faces; then a shout which
seemed to rend the very air, and found its echo far and wide in the glens and clefts of
Carmel: "Jehovah, He the Elohim! Jehovah, He the Elohim!"
And so Israel was once more converted unto God. And now, in accordance with the
Divine command in the Law (Deuteronomy 13:13; 17:2, etc.), stern judgment must
(^)