SUMMONING OF THE PEOPLE TO MOUNT CARMEL

Elijah also demanded from king Ahab the summoning of all the people of Israel, with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asheral who ate at Jezebel's table. Ahab obeyed and gathered the people of Israel and his four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, but only Jezebel and her four hundred prophets did not show up.

This summoning was to meet with Elijah on mount Carmel. Mountain is a symbol of kingdom, strength, stability, authority, righteousness of God and judgment- Isa. 2:2; Dan. 2:35; Jer. 3:23; Ps. 36:6. Hence on mount Carmel, the God and the kingdom that had power and authority over the nation of Israel was decided and the slogan was- ''The god who answers by fire- he is God''- I Kgs. 18:20-39. The people had been wavering between the true God and Baal.

Also, there was a similar event in the days of Joshua, the successor of Moses. After Joshua had finished his assignment of leading the people of God and had allotted lands to the twelve tribes of Jacob, he gathered them at mount Shechem for covenant renewal. There, he urged them o throw away their foreign gods and serve the only true God that brought them out from Egypt. He challenged them and said '' Choose you this day whom you will serve for the rest of your lives, but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord''.

Indeed, a time like this will come in every man's life when such challenge and choice must be decided, either to serve the Lord as God or to serve other gods of this world- the gods of iron ,bronze, silver, money, wood or clay which has so many interpretations  in a man's life. One cannot serve the true God and other gods at the same time. We must always choose one ad reject the other.