most emphatically. To get a good idea of the man, we
may set him forth as seen in six notable scenes.

#87. First Scene:# Elijah and Ahab.--This is where he meets the king,
and announces that as the God of Israel lives, there shall not be dew
or rain in all the land, excepting at the word of the prophet. Note
here the significant nature of this challenge. The two divinities that
the people were now forced to worship were supposed to preside over
the processes of nature. Just in their realm of influence, therefore,
Elijah challenges them, and claims that his God has given to him power
over the forces of nature, such as neither Baal nor Ashtoreth
possessed. Then Elijah disappears, no one knows whither.

#88.# Now follows the fulfilment of his prediction. The season for the
early and for the latter rain comes and goes, and still there is no
rain. Probably some said, "This is unusual, but of course things will
even up next year, and we shall have an abundance of rain." But the
next year came and went, and still the heavens were as brass. Ahab now
tries to discover this man who holds the key of the heaven, that he
may force him to unlock the clouds. But in vain. The third year comes
and goes, and still there is no rain, while the land is dry and
parched, and even the king finds it hard to get food for his horses.
At the same time there are some who call attention to the most
unwonted fact that not only has there been no rain, but that even the
dew has not been seen for three years.

#89. Second Scene.#--Now comes the second encounter between the
prophet and the enraged monarch. Most dramatic is this brief
interview, in which Ahab charges Elijah with troubling Israel, and
Elijah throws the charge back in his teeth. Then comes the further
challenge on the part of the prophet to the priests of these two
nature divinities, to test their power on Mount Carmel. The scene
there is too familiar to need detailed description. Suffice it to
remind the student that Baal's priests were powerless to make good
their claim that their gods held control over the forces of nature.
Elijah, however, proves that Jehovah is the God of nature, and holds
all things in his hands, for his prayer is answered by fire, and the
sacrifice is consumed, with the wood and the water and the very dust
that lay around so abundantly. Now comes the confession of the people
that Jehovah and not Baal is the true God. Then comes the rain at
Elijah's petition, and