Baal was considered the god of rain and, therefore, the protector of fertility and successful harvests. Elijah challenges Baalism directly, attributing to the Lord the same titles and actions that the idol-worshipers ascribe to Baal. This was part of a major effort to defend the Yahwist faith from collapse. The showdown between Elijah and Baal reaches its dramatic climax on Mount Carmel’s summit, where the futility of Baal and the power of the Lord are made clear. Elijah boldly faces the truth and urges the people to choose sides. You can’t serve both Baal and the Lord simultaneously, nor can you have a divided heart. He orders the prophets of Baal to be seized and executed at the brook Kishon. From the eastern peak of Mount Carmel, where the story suggests the event occurred, the Mediterranean Sea is visible on the distant horizon, the only source of clouds and rain in the Syrian-Palestinian area. After seven tries, Elijah’s servant finally spots a small cloud, signaling that the drought has ended.