It takes place in the evening, storm clouds are seen coming and rain begins immediately afterward.
Plus the water around the alter remains in the ditch above wooden planks as a 'conduit'.
2007-06-28 08:31:24 · 10 answers · asked by Thomas Paine 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Possibly, but even if it was, it raises a few questions:
How did Elijah learn that water and wood would attract lightening?
If he knew this, why didn't the "prophets of Baal" know it as well?
If it wasn't the first lightening bolt from the storm, wouldn't it have ruined the effect (i.e., it wouldn't have been very impressive if just one of hundreds of lightening bolts hit the sacrifice)? If it was, how did Elijah get lucky enough to know it would strike his sacrifice?
Could one lightening bolt account for the totality of the destruction of Elijah's sacrifice ("And fire fell from Jehovah and burned up the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and the water in the trench was licked up." 1Kings 18:38, LITV)?
2007-06-28 17:04:14 · answer #1 · answered by Deof Movestofca 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I wasn't there... the only record we have is that fire came from heaven and burned the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the water. Whatever the details are beyond that is a question open to opinion or conjecture.
2007-06-28 15:35:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I find the story highly unlikely, and so did Elijah.
You can tell this by his fearful reaction to Ahab's wife, when she decided to have him done in.
He ran away and hid in a cave.
Why on earth would someone who could ask God to deliver lightning at will be afraid of another human?
Doesn't make sense.
2007-06-28 15:38:23 · answer #3 · answered by ɹɐǝɟsuɐs Blessed Cheese Maker 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You presume that Elijah was too stupid to know what lightning was. There are references to lightning in the old testament which means they knew of it. Instead of trying discredit it, why not take the approach of innocent until proven guilty? The bible is truthful unless proven otherwise.
2007-06-28 15:36:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
nope, because the fire from heaven burned up the sacrifice and the water around it,. that doesn't happen with a lightning strike.
2007-06-28 15:36:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It could have been...but the Bible says 'Fire came down from heaven'. Since I wasn't there I can't say for sure.
2007-06-28 15:36:01 · answer #6 · answered by mahakala_00 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is the logical answer...
but some people will always believe in "magic" instead of believing the most natural, simplest and logical answer.
2007-06-28 15:35:27 · answer #7 · answered by Heather L 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you're looking for a rational explanation, the most rational is that Elijah never actually existed, or if he did, the myths attributed to him are false.
2007-06-28 15:35:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
Or, perhaps the whole thing is a made-up story.
2007-06-28 15:34:55 · answer #9 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 4⤊ 4⤋
God sent it.
2007-06-28 15:37:26 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋