Observation

This question was attempted by a large number of candidates. However, most candidates seems not to have a proper understanding of the story of Elijah, candidates formed their answer/story line from the popular quote/theme of song “The God of Elijah send down Fire” but could not answer the question as it was from the biblical perspective. This inadequacy prevented the candidates from obtaining high marks in this question. Candidates were expected to list out points such as:

1. King Ahab allowed Jezebel, his wife to introduce the worship of Baal and Asherah in Israel.
2. God’s anger was provoked, He therefore sent Elijah, the prophet, to pronounce drought and famine on the land.
3. Ahab then accused Elijah of being the cause of the drought in Israel.
4. Elijah also blamed Ahab for allowing the worship of Baal in Israel which made people forsake God.
5. Elijah, therefore, requested for the contest on Mount Carmel to determine who was supreme in Israel, Yahweh or Baal?
6. Elijah asked the prophets of Baal to sacrifice a bull on an altar and call on Baal to send fire to consume the sacrifice.
7. Similarly, Elijah would also sacrifice a bull on an altar and ask God to send fire to consume it.
8. According to Elijah, the God who answered by fire would be the true God of Israel.
9. The Baal prophets took their turn first, but they could not send down fire.
10. They even cut themselves with knives and lances without any effect.
11. Elijah then mocked them, saying their god may be on a journey or asleep.
12. Elijah took his turn, built an altar with twelve stones, and requested that trenches be made around the altar and water poured into them.
13. Elijah offered a simple prayer and immediately God sent down fire to consume the sacrifice.
14. The people declared, “The Lord, He is God, the Lord He is God”.

In the part B, some candidates used guess work to answer the question and were able to derive some points. Candidates should have answered the question by giving some of the following points;

1. Members of the church should avoid sin and lead exemplary lives.
2. Need to focus on God only/fear of God.
3. Avoidance of partiality.
4. Counselling those who go astray.
5. Men of God/Christians should speak against social injustice/corruption/Immoralities etc.
6. Need to respect/Fight for human rights.