1 Kings 18:25-29
"25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention."
It is interesting to compare Elijah's encounter with the prophets of Baal with that of Moses with Pharaoh and his magicians (Exodus 7-9). There, the evil powers of the magicians were able to produce lying wonders in answer to the miracles wrought by God through Moses; here however, Baal was completely silenced, and no voice answered the prophets' frenzied cries. The comparison should remind us that evil powers are a reality, not a fiction. Satan is the dark, Satan's authority was being challenged for the first time in a land where hitherto he had held undisputed sway, and not without a struggle did he give way. But here it was different; he had usurped power in a land that had formerly known the true worship, and the challenge made by Elijah (24) was such that God could brook no sort of opposition to Him, and He sovereignly suffered him not to speak. This was necessary to demonstrate to the wavering people the impotence of Baal in face of the true and living God. This is a useful distinction to bear in mind in Christian work. Not without battle and opposition will the powers of darkness yield ground to the Gospel, but when it comes to a 'showdown' between light and darkness, God will silence the devil utterly and spread confusion among his minions. Where the honour and integrity of His great Name is in question, all His sovereign might and power will come to our aid.