The people of Israel had all but forgotten their history and calling. Influenced by Jezebel, they fell into Baal worship. The Lord could have left them alone to perish in their sin-blindness. God does not do a miracle to make us remember him every time we forget him. But he used Elijah to open Israel’s eyes with a great demonstration that the Lord alone is God who can answer prayer from heaven. After the prophets of Baal did their best with no result, Elijah first gave the people a history lesson (30-31). Then, a miracle happened because of Elijah’s earnest prayer to turn the people’s hearts back to the Lord (36-37).

God used the boldness and zeal of one person, Elijah, to change a whole generation. We believe he is using people in our generation in the same way. Can the Lord use me like he used Elijah? Yes, if we have a sense of history, deeply understand the spiritual problem of our time, and pray earnestly. Through the burning of the sacrifice and the end of the drought, Israel began to be turned away from Baal worship. May it happen in our times as well.
Application: Father, thank you for your grace to call us back to you when we forget you. Please use me to call your people back to you.
One Word: Answer, Lord, and turn our hearts back.