29
In the afternoon they continued to rant and rave until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no sound, no answer, no attention given to them.
30
Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come over here." So all the people came to him. He rebuilt the LORD's altar that had been torn down.
31
Elijah took 12 stones, one for each of the tribes named after Jacob's sons. (The LORD had spoken his word to Jacob: "Your name will be Israel.")
32
Elijah built an altar in the LORD's name with those stones. He also made a trench that could hold 12 quarts of grain around the altar.
33
He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and put it on the wood.
34
He said, "Fill four jars with water. Pour the water on the offering and on the wood." Then he said, "Do it again," and they did it again. Then he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time.
35
The water flowed around the altar, and even the trench was filled with water.
36
When it was time to offer the sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward. He said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make known today that you are God in Israel and that I'm your servant and have done all these things by your instructions.
37
Answer me, LORD! Answer me! Then these people will know that you, LORD, are God and that you are winning back their hearts."
38
So a fire from the LORD fell down and consumed the burnt offering, wood, stones, and dirt. The fire even dried up the water that was in the trench.
39
All the people saw it and immediately bowed down to the ground. "The LORD is God!" they said. "The LORD is God!"