(a) Describe how the supremacy of God was made manifest during the contest on Mount Carmel (b) In what three ways can the church fight against immoral acts ...

Answer Details

(a) The supremacy of God on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:17-40)

During a great drought, Elijah met King Ahab and challenged him over Israel's worship of Baal. He proposed a contest to prove who the true God was, and all Israel, together with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal (and the prophets of Asherah), gathered at Mount Carmel.

Elijah challenged the people: "How long will you go limping between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him." But the people did not answer. He then set the terms: two bulls would be prepared, one for the prophets of Baal and one for himself, laid on wood but with no fire under them. Each side would call on the name of its god, and the God who answered by fire would be recognised as the true God. The people agreed.

The prophets of Baal went first. They prepared their bull and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, "O Baal, answer us!" but there was no voice and no answer. They limped around the altar and, as Elijah mocked them, saying perhaps their god was musing, or gone aside, or on a journey, or asleep, they cried louder and cut themselves with swords and lances until blood gushed out. Yet there was no voice, no answer, no response the whole afternoon.

Then Elijah called the people to him. He repaired the broken altar of the LORD with twelve stones for the twelve tribes, dug a trench around it, laid the wood and the bull, and to remove all doubt he had the offering drenched with water three times until the water filled the trench. At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah prayed, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel... answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God."

Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones and the dust, and even licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and cried, "The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God." At Elijah's command they seized the prophets of Baal, and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and killed them. Thus the supremacy of the LORD over Baal was proved.

(b) Three ways the church can fight against immoral acts in society

• By boldly preaching, teaching and condemning sin and immorality, calling people to repentance.
• By living an exemplary and holy life, so that members become role models of good conduct.
• By organising moral education, counselling, evangelism and social programmes that encourage godly values and discipline offenders.