The contest on Mount Carmel was to decide whether the people of Israel should follow Yahweh, the God of Israel, or the false god Baal. The prophet Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a test, where both groups would offer a sacrifice to their respective gods. The true God would be the one who answered with fire from heaven and consumed the sacrifice. The prophets of Baal prayed and shouted for hours, but nothing happened. When Elijah prayed to Yahweh, fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice. This proved that Yahweh was the one true God, and the people of Israel should follow Him alone.