Elias at ang Hamon sa Bundok

Matagal nang may problema sa lupain. Maraming tao ang nalilito. Maraming tao ang nag-aalinlangan. May mga sumusunod kay Jehova, pero marami ang sumunod kay Baal. Sa buong lugar, naroon ang mga propeta ni Baal. Malalakas ang loob nila. Marami sila. At madalas, parang sila ang panalo dahil marami ang nakikinig sa kanila.

Si Elias ay lingkod ni Jehova. Hindi siya naghahanap ng gulo. Pero masakit sa kaniya ang nakikita niya. Alam niyang kailangang tumigil ang pagdududa ng bayan. Kaya dumating ang araw na haharap siya. Hindi para ipakita ang sarili niya, kundi para ipakita kung sino ang tunay na Diyos.

Tinipon ang bayan sa bundok. Dumating ang maraming tao. Nagtipon sila at pumuwesto sa paligid. Dumating din ang mga propeta ni Baal, at marami sila. May ingay at may bulungan. May mga taong nag-aabang. May mga taong tahimik lang, pero naguguluhan pa rin.

Tumayo si Elias sa harap ng bayan. Nagsalita siya nang diretso. Tinanong niya kung hanggang kailan sila mag-aalinlangan. Sinabi niya na kung si Jehova ang tunay na Diyos, sundin nila si Jehova. Pero kung si Baal ang tunay, sundin nila si Baal. Tahimik ang bayan. Walang sumagot.

Kaya nagbigay si Elias ng hamon. Maghahanda ang magkabilang panig ng handog. Hindi nila sisindihan ang apoy. Tatawag sila sa kanilang diyos. Ang Diyos na sasagot sa pamamagitan ng apoy ang tunay na Diyos. Pumayag ang bayan. Pumayag din ang mga propeta ni Baal, dahil kampante sila.

Nauna ang mga propeta ni Baal. Inihanda nila ang handog at ang altar. Nagsimula silang tumawag. Sumigaw sila. Nanawagan sila. Tumalon sila sa paligid ng altar. Lumipas ang oras, pero walang sagot. Tahimik ang langit. Walang apoy na bumaba.

Nang dumating ang oras ni Elias, lumapit siya. Inayos niya ang altar at ang handog. Pagkatapos, nagbuhos siya ng tubig sa handog. Hindi isang beses lang. Inulit niya. Inulit niya ulit. Nabasa ang handog at ang altar. Napuno ng tubig ang hukay sa paligid. Nakatingin ang bayan habang ginagawa niya ito.

Pagkatapos, tumayo si Elias at nanawagan kay Jehova. Tahimik ang bayan. Nakatingin silang lahat. Biglang bumaba ang apoy. Nasunog ang handog, ang mga kahoy, at ang mga bato. Nawala pati ang tubig. Natakot at namangha ang bayan. Bumagsak sila sa lupa at sumigaw sila na si Jehova ang tunay na Diyos.

For a long time there was a problem in the land. Many people were confused. Many people were unsure. Some followed Jehovah, but many followed Baal. Prophets of Baal were in the land. They were confident. There were many of them. Often they seemed to win because many people listened to them.

Elijah was a servant of Jehovah. He did not look for trouble. But what he saw hurt him. He knew the people’s doubt had to stop. So a day came when he would stand up. Not to show himself, but to show who the true God is.

The people were gathered on a mountain. Many came and stood around. The prophets of Baal also came, and there were many. There was noise and whispering. Some expected drama. Some stayed quiet, but they were still confused.

Elijah stood in front of the people. He spoke directly. He asked how long they would keep hesitating. He said that if Jehovah is the true God, they should follow Jehovah. But if Baal is true, they should follow Baal. The people were silent. No one answered.

So Elijah gave a challenge. Both sides would prepare an offering. They would not light the fire. They would call to their god. The God who answered by fire would be the true God. The people agreed. The prophets of Baal also agreed because they felt confident.

The prophets of Baal went first. They prepared the offering and the altar. They began to call. They shouted. They kept calling. They jumped around the altar. Time passed, but there was no answer. The sky stayed quiet. No fire came down.

When Elijah’s time came, he stepped forward. He fixed the altar and the offering. Then he poured water on the offering. Not just once. He repeated it. He repeated it again. The offering and the altar became wet. The trench around it filled with water. The people watched him.

Then Elijah stood and called to Jehovah. The people were quiet. Everyone watched. Suddenly, fire came down. The offering burned, the wood burned, and the stones burned. Even the water disappeared. The people were afraid and amazed. They fell to the ground and shouted that Jehovah is the true God.