[Velvet]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

The Bible makes for fascinating reading, often for reasons OTHER than religious.

I find the account of Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16-45) particularly fascinating. In summary, at the time of the account Israel was suffering from a severe drought. Elijah basically challenged the prophets of Baal to a sort of spiritual duel: both he and they would climb Mount Carmel, each build an altar and sacrifice a bull. The Baal folks would be allowed to light up their bull, but Elijah wouldn't. Instead he would call down the "fire of God" to consume his bull. Baal's prophets dutifully did what they were told and lit up their bull sometime before noon, but Elijah waited. And waited. And waited. Finally he built his altar apparently just before evening, laid his bull on top of it, and then upped the stakes (and taunting the prophets of Baal at the same time) by digging a trench around his altar and filling it with water. Finally Elijah got to praying and sure enough, the "fire of God" came down and touched off his altar. Hallelujah!

But...

1) Severe drought.
2) High place.
3) Late afternoon
4) Water
5) Huge rainstorm afterward

Whatever else he may have been, Elijah was apparently a pretty darn good weatherman/scientist!

Hey, he had help!