1 Kings 18:30-35

Elijah then told all the people, “Approach me.” So all the people approached him. He repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.  Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of tribes that descended from Jacob, to whom the Lord had said, “Israel will be your new name.”  With the stones he constructed an altar for the Lord. Around the altar he made a trench large enough to contain two seahs of seed.  He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood.  Then he said, “Fill four water jars and pour the water on the offering and the wood.” When they had done so, he said, “Do it again.” So they did it again. Then he said, “Do it a third time.” So they did it a third time.  The water flowed down all sides of the altar and filled the trench.

In round 1 of the contest, Baal does not answer his 450 prophets. Their sacrifice remains on their altar. Round 2 begins with Elijah repairing the altar of the Lord that had been destroyed. While there is precision and significance to every detail he performs, the striking point comes when he instructs people to pour large amounts of water on the offering and the wood. Three times this is done, and we are left with a completely drenched offering. Only God can light it now. There will be no magic tricks or deception. Think about the water in this story being sin, and the offering to God being our lives. God alone can deliver Israel. He alone can deliver us from sin. The stage is set once again for God to show up and do the impossible.