english Bible Presentation Sharing - 1-Kings Book, chapter 18, verse 19 in Hcsb Version

1 Kings 18 : 1 (HCSB)

After a long time, the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year: "Go and present yourself to Ahab. I will send rain on the surface of the land."

1 Kings 18 : 2 (HCSB)

So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.

1 Kings 18 : 3 (HCSB)

Ahab called for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Obadiah was a man who greatly feared the LORD

1 Kings 18 : 4 (HCSB)

and took 100 prophets and hid them, 50 men to a cave, and provided them with food and water when Jezebel slaughtered the LORD's prophets.

1 Kings 18 : 5 (HCSB)

Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go throughout the land to every spring of water and to every wadi. Perhaps we'll find grass so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to destroy any cattle."

1 Kings 18 : 6 (HCSB)

They divided the land between them in order to cover it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.

1 Kings 18 : 7 (HCSB)

While Obadiah was [walking] along the road, Elijah suddenly met him. When Obadiah recognized him, he fell with his face [to the ground] and said, "Is it you, my lord Elijah?"

1 Kings 18 : 8 (HCSB)

"It is I," he replied. "Go tell your lord, 'Elijah is here!'"

1 Kings 18 : 9 (HCSB)

But Obadiah said, "What sin have I committed, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death?

1 Kings 18 : 10 (HCSB)

As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, 'He is not here,' he made that kingdom or nation swear they had not found you.

1 Kings 18 : 11 (HCSB)

"Now you say, 'Go tell your lord, "Elijah is here!"'

1 Kings 18 : 12 (HCSB)

But when I leave you, the Spirit of the LORD may carry you off to some place I don't know. Then when I go report to Ahab and he doesn't find you, he will kill me. But [I], your servant, have feared the LORD from my youth.

1 Kings 18 : 13 (HCSB)

Wasn't it reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered the LORD's prophets? I hid 100 of the prophets of the LORD, 50 men to a cave, and I provided them with food and water.

1 Kings 18 : 14 (HCSB)

Now you say, 'Go tell your lord, "Elijah is here!" ' He will kill me!"

1 Kings 18 : 15 (HCSB)

Then Elijah said, "As the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, today I will present myself to Ahab."

1 Kings 18 : 16 (HCSB)

Obadiah went to meet Ahab and report to him. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah.

1 Kings 18 : 17 (HCSB)

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is that you, you destroyer of Israel?"

1 Kings 18 : 18 (HCSB)

He replied, "I have not destroyed Israel, but you and your father's house have, because you have abandoned the LORD's commandments and followed the Baals.

1 Kings 18 : 19 (HCSB)

Now summon all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table."

1 Kings 18 : 20 (HCSB)

So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel.

1 Kings 18 : 21 (HCSB)

Then Elijah approached all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him." But the people didn't answer him a word.

1 Kings 18 : 22 (HCSB)

Then Elijah said to the people, "I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal's prophets are 450 men.

1 Kings 18 : 23 (HCSB)

Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire.

1 Kings 18 : 24 (HCSB)

Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh. The God who answers with fire, He is God." All the people answered, "That [sounds] good."

1 Kings 18 : 25 (HCSB)

Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god but don't light the fire."

1 Kings 18 : 26 (HCSB)

So they took the bull that he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "Baal, answer us!" But there was no sound; no one answered. Then they did their lame dance around the altar they had made.

1 Kings 18 : 27 (HCSB)

At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, "Shout loudly, for he's a god! Maybe he's thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he's on the road. Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!"

1 Kings 18 : 28 (HCSB)

They shouted loudly, and cut themselves with knives and spears, according to their custom, until blood gushed out on them.

1 Kings 18 : 29 (HCSB)

All afternoon, they kept on raving until the offering of the evening sacrifice, but there was no sound, no one answered, no one paid attention.

1 Kings 18 : 30 (HCSB)

Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near me." So all the people approached him. Then he repaired the LORD's altar that had been torn down:

1 Kings 18 : 31 (HCSB)

Elijah took 12 stones-- according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Israel will be your name"--

1 Kings 18 : 32 (HCSB)

and he built an altar with the stones in the name of Yahweh. Then he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold about four gallons.

1 Kings 18 : 33 (HCSB)

Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. He said, "Fill four water pots with water and pour it on the offering to be burned and on the wood."

1 Kings 18 : 34 (HCSB)

Then he said, "A second time!" and they did it a second time. And then he said, "A third time!" and they did it a third time.

1 Kings 18 : 35 (HCSB)

So the water ran all around the altar; he even filled the trench with water.

1 Kings 18 : 36 (HCSB)

At the time for offering the [evening] sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached [the altar] and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that at Your word I have done all these things.

1 Kings 18 : 37 (HCSB)

Answer me, LORD! Answer me so that this people will know that You, Yahweh, are God and that You have turned their hearts back."

1 Kings 18 : 38 (HCSB)

Then Yahweh's fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.

1 Kings 18 : 39 (HCSB)

When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, "Yahweh, He is God! Yahweh, He is God!"

1 Kings 18 : 40 (HCSB)

Then Elijah ordered them, "Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let even one of them escape." So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon and slaughtered them there.

1 Kings 18 : 41 (HCSB)

Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm."

1 Kings 18 : 42 (HCSB)

So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel. He bowed down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

1 Kings 18 : 43 (HCSB)

Then he said to his servant, "Go up and look toward the sea." So he went up, looked, and said, "There's nothing." Seven times Elijah said, "Go back."

1 Kings 18 : 44 (HCSB)

On the seventh time, he reported, "There's a cloud as small as a man's hand coming from the sea." Then Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Get [your chariot] ready and go down so the rain doesn't stop you.'"

1 Kings 18 : 45 (HCSB)

In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. So Ahab got in [his chariot] and went to Jezreel.

1 Kings 18 : 46 (HCSB)

The power of the LORD was on Elijah, and he tucked his mantle under his belt and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.