1 Kings 18:24

“And call ye on the name of your gods, etc.] The Baalim, the many lords and gods they served: and I will call on the name of the Lord; the one true Jehovah and God of Israel, whom I serve: and the God that answereth by fire; by causing fire to come down upon the sacrifice, and consume it: let him be God; accounted, owned, and acknowledged as the true God, and so afterwards worshipped as such: and all the people answered and said, it is well spoken; they thought it a very reasonable proposal, a very good method to determine the controversy, and come at the truth, and know who was the true God, and who not.”

“The God that answereth by fire - God had frequently before consumed offerings with supernatural fire Leviticus 9:24; Judges 6:21. The Baal-worshippers were no doubt in the habit of attributing thunder and lightning to their gods - the great Nature-power - and thus had no excuse for declining Elijah’s challenge. return to 'Top of Page'”

“By Fire - That shall consume the sacrifice by fire sent from heaven; which the people knew the true God used to do. It was a great condescension in God, that he would permit Baal to be a competitor with him. But thus God would have every mouth to be stopped, and all flesh become silent before him. And Elijah doubtless had a special commission from God, or he durst not have put it to this issue. But the case was extraordinary, and the judgment upon it would be of use not only then, but in all ages. Elijah does not say, The God that answers by water, tho' that was the thing the country needed, but that answers by fire, let him be God; because the atonement was to be made, before the judgment…”

“answereth by fire: Kg1 18:38; Lev 9:24; Jdg 6:21; Ch1 21:26; Ch2 7:1, Ch2 7:3 and said: Sa2 14:19 It is well spoken: Heb. the word is good, Isa 39:8 3 Kings (1 Kings) 18:26”