1 Kings 18 — Mount Carmel contest as evidence-based faith: Elijah's challenge to prophets of Baal

Elijah proposes a contest on Mount Carmel to determine which god is real — Yahweh or Baal. Two bulls are prepared, no fire is lit, and whichever deity ignites the sacrifice is the true God. Elijah even pours water on the offering to make it harder to burn, increasing the evidentiary weight of the result. Fire falls and consumes the sacrifice, and the people declare 'Yahweh, He is God.' Mike emphasizes: Elijah did not say 'take it on faith' — he said 'here is the proof.'