God's way of doing things is totally different from the devil's way. Those who don't know the Lord - and therefore don't serve Him - don't see their own transgression, but want God's approval for their actions, even if they are wrong. Elijah told the prophets of Baal and Asherah to choose two calves and call on the name of their god, of which there were many, so that Baal would hear them. So, they cried out for hours until they despaired. Elijah was just watching!

           The prophet of God set that challenge so that the people would know who the Lord really was. Faced with the 450 priests of Baal and the 400 of Asherah (1 Kings 18.19), And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word (1 Kings 18:21). They said nothing because the deception had already confused them.

           Why did the worship of Baal and Asherah grow? Because it propagated lies and encouraged any kind of immorality, condemning purity. If a man went to the priest of that filthiness to be forgiven of some sin, all he had to do was take a virgin woman, or not, go under a tree and have carnal conjunction with her, with consent or not; then he would be "forgiven". Isn't that what is taught out in the world? Who is behind such thing?

           The devil's goal is to deceive and destroy those who seek the Lord (John 10:10). We hear from many pulpits that anything goes between four walls, but the Word says something about this: Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge (Hebrews 13.4). Have the Scriptures changed, or do these people not understand what they are proclaiming? Stick to what the Word says!

           The blood of Christ is one of the weapons used by God to equip us and overcome evil: Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God, day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” (Revelation 12.10-12). This was one of the reasons why the prophets of Baal tore themselves apart and cried out for their god to hear them, but how, if he is bogus? Baal is a defeated demon.

           In pagan cults, the blood of animals is used in their rituals. Now, the only one Who can solve any dilemma is the Lord, who created everything, including man from the dust of the Earth. He is the Sovereign One! Whoever calls on Him in spirit and in truth will break the power of the king of hell over the life of the person whose fate is lost! (Luke 10.19).

         The meeting on Mount Camel came to an end when Elijah said that it was enough, because they were asking for fire and Baal wouldn't answer. The prophet repaired the altar of the Lord, laid the wood and prayed that God would answer him with fire, and so it happened. The people cried out: The LORD alone is God! (1 Kings 18.22-39).

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares