Elijah 5 - Victory!

He heard God's command, confronted the priests of a false god, and when his work was done, God provided him with a successor.  The story of Elijah in 7 parts.  Written by Noel Speers. 

Produced by Commission Christian Radio

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:26

Commission presents Elijah by Noel Spears. Episode five Victory.

SPEAKER_06 0:44

Our nation has long awaited this moment. You must decide. You cannot waver between two options. If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal is God, follow him. You must decide which God to follow. I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left. Baal has 450 prophets. Let it be seen once and for all. Who is truly God? We have work to do.

SPEAKER_05 1:27

Work, Elijah? What task have you planned for us then? Task, you ask. It will all be quite simple.

SPEAKER_06 1:34

I will explain. Yes, how do you propose to settle this? Oh, but Diah, I am surprised. Shocked that you even ask such a question. It is not my task to settle this question. Our Lord God Himself will undertake to lead his people. I should have realized you would have a clever answer.

SPEAKER_05 1:52

Bring all to order, please. People, let us be silent. Be silent.

SPEAKER_06 2:04

Now bring two young bulls, please. We shall each sacrifice one bull to our God. The prophets of Baal shall choose whichever one they wish, and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar. But they will not put any fire under the wood.

SPEAKER_05 2:24

Ah, I see this is how we shall settle the question. A simple test, Elijah. A simple test for each god.

SPEAKER_06 2:32

I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood of the Lord God of Israel's altar. Also with no fire under it. Now that will be a very fair test. You have heard the order? Do it now.

SPEAKER_08 2:47

Yes, sir. And we must also build an altar. An altar to our god Baal.

SPEAKER_05 2:55

Elijah, sir, there is that other altar. Let's use it for the Lord God of Israel. Yes. But it's not in great shape. No, it hasn't been used for years, but it can be repaired.

SPEAKER_06 3:07

Yes, I remember it. Down by the well. If you say it's repairable, then it will serve our purpose. Good. Oh, and here are the bulls you ordered. Quite prompt, wouldn't you say? Bring the two bulls over here by this altar that will be used for the sacrifice to Baal. But but but we still have work to complete. Never mind. We still have plenty of time yet. Step over here for a moment. We have had these young bulls brought along for the sacrifice. One for the worship of Baal and the other for the god of Israel. Seem to be fine animals? Yes. Both alike. Now, if you are content with them Yes, we are content. You select whichever animal you wish. Either animal would do us. No, I want you to choose whichever animal you wish to sacrifice to Baal.

SPEAKER_08 4:03

Very well we we'll select this beast.

SPEAKER_06 4:08

Good. Now if you are content with your choice, prepare it for sacrifice to your god Baal as you would normally do. Carry on with the task. It shouldn't be very difficult.

SPEAKER_02 4:23

Yes, we have completed the altar, and and now we'll proceed to prepare the animal.

SPEAKER_06 4:29

If that is in order, sir. Of course. You have made your choice, and you've selected that animal. What should we do now? Um are you not the priest to your god Bao? Well should be straightforward. Take the pieces of the animal and carefully lay them on the wood of the altar to Bao.

SPEAKER_08 4:52

Yes, we'll we'll do as you say.

SPEAKER_06 4:54

But remember my instruction. Do not put any fire under the wood.

SPEAKER_08 5:00

But uh how can the sacrifice be made without any fire? This cannot be done.

SPEAKER_06 5:07

Just a moment. Uh did I hear you ask, how can a sacrifice be made without fire? Is Baal not a real god? Can he not set fire to this altar that you have made? What sort of a deity is he?

SPEAKER_08 5:24

Yes, yes, of course, you ask well. We must see to this task. Come on, my friends. We have work to do.

SPEAKER_05 5:34

Elijah, how do you expect the priests of Baal to complete the sacrifice without any fire? Oh, Dia.

SPEAKER_06 5:41

If Baal really is a true god, as his priests believe, surely lighting this sacrifice should be very simple. After all, remember, this sacrifice is to the high and mighty god Baal. Will Baal not be able to light the fire?

SPEAKER_03 5:58

Oh Elijah, you are very cruel.

SPEAKER_06 6:01

Cruel? Maybe I think I'm just being a fair judge. Come, let us watch Baal's priests at work.

SPEAKER_07 6:17

Oh Baal, hear us! Hear us, Baal! Lord, accept this sacrifice! Please, Baal! Hear us, Baal!

SPEAKER_06 6:28

You'll have to shout louder to catch the attention of your god!

SPEAKER_07 6:31

Oh Baal, answer our prayer! Hear us, Baal! Hear us!

SPEAKER_04 6:36

Elijah, do you think we should be so close? Is this safe? Is that the King's Chamberlain I hear? But these fellows are really serious. See how that fellow's flashing that knife? We could get hurt here. No, I fear that he will hurt himself.

SPEAKER_06 6:49

Of course they're serious. Are these not the prophets of Baal? And he isn't answering their prayers.

SPEAKER_04 6:59

Is he deaf this morning? Elijah. Be careful of what you say. You might offend these priests.

SPEAKER_06 7:05

Offend them? Baal must be talking to someone. Someone important! Baal will respond to us.

SPEAKER_07 7:14

Do you hear me?

SPEAKER_06 7:20

No, you'll have to shout louder than that. Baal!

SPEAKER_07 7:25

Baal!

SPEAKER_05 7:30

Look Elijah, they've begun to dance.

SPEAKER_06 7:32

You need to waken him from his sleep!

SPEAKER_05 7:36

Careful. There's another one who's taken out his knife. He looks dangerous. Only dangerous to himself. I hope so.

SPEAKER_06 7:43

Don't forget, Obadiah. The Lord God is with us. We are not alone.

SPEAKER_05 7:48

It's easily said when we're surrounded by these eager prophets.

SPEAKER_06 7:59

I told you! Your Baal is talking to someone. No, perhaps not. He might be sitting on the toilet. Perhaps that's where he is. Well, you can leave it to Bal to do that.

SPEAKER_05 8:16

I could say that, but don't enrage them too much.

SPEAKER_07 8:23

Oh Baal! Answer us, oh God! Answer us, oh God!

SPEAKER_06 8:29

Oh God, do answer us! No, you'll have to show it louder than that! Show it lighter!

SPEAKER_00 8:37

As Elijah and Obadiah stood watching, the priests of Baal shouted louder, and some cut themselves with knives and sword until the blood gushed out. They danced and raved all afternoon in some form of strange frenzy until the time at which the people of Israel normally held their evening sacrifice. But the god Baal neither answered the priests by way of fire or voice nothing. All was quiet. At that moment, Elijah stepped forward out of the crowd and called to everyone.

SPEAKER_06 9:18

Everybody! Come over here! What are you doing? This has gone on for too long. Just be very careful, Elijah. Remember, Obadiah, we are not alone.

SPEAKER_05 9:28

Yes, right now I'm finding that very difficult with all these means.

SPEAKER_06 9:31

Is it not nun? Your God should have answered by now. Perhaps he is asleep. Maybe on a journey.

SPEAKER_07 9:41

Bow, hear us, answer us, our God. Yes, must be asleep. Bow, hear us, answer us, our god. Shout more loudly! Then he will answer! Bowl, hear us. Elijah, you can't play this to carry on.

SPEAKER_06 9:59

These people will kill themselves. Grieve not, Obadiah, just a little longer, my friend.

SPEAKER_07 10:06

Baal! Hear us! Answer us, our God!

SPEAKER_00 10:11

There was no response. No one answered. No one paid attention. Oh, then Elijah stepped forward.

SPEAKER_06 10:26

This is the altar to the Lord God of Israel. It hasn't been used for some time, sir. Some years, in fact. We must end that. Originally there would have been twelve stones used to build it.

SPEAKER_00 10:39

And indeed, there were twelve stones, each to represent one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Carefully, Elijah rebuilt the altar to the Lord God of Israel, and around it dug a trench. He piled wood onto the altar and cut the young bull into pieces and laid the pieces on the wood.

SPEAKER_06 11:00

Fill four buckets with water.

SPEAKER_08 11:03

Yes. For what reason, sir?

SPEAKER_06 11:05

And pour the water over the carcass and the wood. You want us to do what? Pour the water over the carcass and the wood. Thank you. Now please do it again. Sorry? Pour the water over the carcass and the wood again. This is madness! The sacrifice will not burn now. Never! Now, do it once more. But the water is already filling the trench. I can see that. Pour the water over the carcass and the wood again.

SPEAKER_08 11:40

Yes, sir, as you ask.

SPEAKER_06 11:43

Now, let's complete the sacrifice.

SPEAKER_02 11:47

Look, that sacrifice will never light now. Even the trench is full of water.

SPEAKER_06 11:53

But I am not dependent on your bowl to light this sacrifice. Now please leave me alone. Thank you. I have well some things to do.

SPEAKER_08 12:05

Come on, let's leave him.

SPEAKER_06 12:10

O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, prove today that you are the God of Israel, and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me. Answer me so that these people will know that you are God, and that you have brought them back to yourself.

SPEAKER_00 12:36

Slowly Elijah arose from his prayer, examined carefully the rebuilt altar, and having concluded that all was in order, stepped back, knelt down, obviously in prayer, facing the sacred shrine. God responded to the call of his prophet, and the altar was engulfed in flames.

SPEAKER_06 13:10

Lord God Almighty, you have indeed shown yourself this day. Please bring your people back to yourself. They have indeed sinned. Lord God, remind them that you are a forgiving God. Thank you, Lord God, that you are a constant God.

SPEAKER_03 13:30

Elijah, sir, what wrongs has this Baal worship done to our nation?

SPEAKER_06 13:35

It is this Baal worship that has destroyed our land and corrupted our people. We must rid ourselves of these heathen priests.

SPEAKER_05 13:44

You think that we should be so hasty? Yes.

SPEAKER_00 13:47

Right away. And there and then Elijah ordered that the priests of Baal be taken to the Kishon Brook and put to death.

SPEAKER_01 14:06

In Elijah by Noel Spears, the part of Elijah was played by Peter Richardson. Other parts were by the Commission radio drama team. The programme was produced by Jennifer Hobson and recorded at Commission Studios in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Episode six is entitled Faith Severely Tested.