Ahab's prophets pray for hours to Baal but nothing happens. The challenge is to offer sacrifices to their respective deities and see which starts a fire to prove their divinity. Elijah challenges Ahab to a demonstration of his deity, Baal, versus the God of Elijah at Mount Carmel. The story continues as Elijah confronts the evil king, Ahab, about being the cause of problems for the people of Israel. When Elijah returned the boy to his mother, the woman could recognize that Elijah was a man of God and was amazed. In a miraculous event, God heard Elijah and answered his prayers, and brought the boy back to life. Though Elijah was blamed by the widow, he attempted to bring the boy back to life by praying to God. The widow was very troubled, believing that Elijah was the reason for this tragedy. Sometime later, the widow's son became ill and passed away. The widow trusts in Elijah and their food lasted until it rained again. Elijah assures her that God will not allow their food to diminish until the rain returns. She replies that she only has a small amount of flour and oil and is collecting sticks so she can cook this last portion of bread as the last meal for her son and herself.

When Elijah comes to the town of Zarephath, he sees the widow and asks her to get him some water and bread. Eventually, the river also dries up and God instructs Elijah to go to the home of a widow who will provide him with food. Elijah had been residing out in the desert where there was a river with drinking water and God had sent ravens to bring him food.

Before Elijah actually arrives in Israel, God sends a drought as he is so displeased with the people.

Bible study series on elijah