The famine ravages the land for three years. King Ahab has searched frantically to find Elijah. Now, Ahab is concerned that his own herds of horses and mules will die of starvation and begins a search for grass to feed them. He goes in one direction and sends Obadiah in another. Obadiah is In charge of Ahab's palace and is loyal to God. He even saved 100 prophets from Jezebel by hiding them in caves.
Elijah emerges from hiding and does not immediately pray for rain. Rather, he has other ideas. He tells Ahab to assemble the people of Israel and prophets of Baal and Ashereth on Mount Carmel along with two altars. A slaughtered bull is placed on each altar. He challenges the 450 prophets of Baal that if Baal is god, let Baal light an altar. If the God of Israel is God, let Him light an altar.
All the people of Israel are watching, presumably on the slopes of the mountain or nearby.
The prophets of Baal shout and dance for several hours. Elijah makes fun of them with mocking sarcasm. Afterwards, the prophets of Baal begin cutting themselves, which was their usual custom. This seems to indicate that this method worked in the past.
Elijah directs that water be poured on his altar and a trench be dug around it to hold more water in. Considering that a famine was happening, water was a precious commodity so this alone is very significant. It also shows Elijah's confidence in the upcoming fire and rain. That said, the water could have been seawater.
Elijah makes a single simple prayer and a fire ball comes from the sky and incinerates the altar, the bull, and all the water. The people of Israel are amazed and he uses the moment to have the prophets of Baal arrested and killed.
God brought fire, now time for rain.
Elijah goes back up the mountain and prays 7 times before a little cloud emerges from the ocean. Soon, this little cloud becomes torrential rainstorm.
Ahab is heading back to Jezreel via chariot and Elijah needs to beat him. In a very understated miracle, Elijah outruns Ahab's chariot and is waiting at Jezreel before Ahab arrives.
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