Do you know the God of Elijah that you could call on Him for a wager? 1 Kings 18-22

1 Kings 18:23-24 (NASBStr)

Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people said, “ That is a good idea.”

Elijah is a prophet of much power and much fame.  He was a man of God who, during this previous drought in the land (that he called for as a result of the nation's disobedience) he was provided in a miraculous way by God.   As God returns him to public ministry he has this past experience of God providing for him in a powerful manner.  He had seen the power of God used for him and through him.   This tends to embolden the man of God.   As a result of seeing God's work in his life, Elijah makes the above wager to the prophets of Baal and the King of Israel, Ahab.   He proposes a show down of God vs. god.   It should be noted that someone ought not to do this unless they have the experience of God in their lives.  Elijah has seen God's hand of power.  For Him to make this wager is not an issue.   When you know the power of God you are not afraid to call upon it.   It is when you don't know it or haven't see it that you should be careful to refrain from wagering it to your cause.   The disciples could not cast a demon out of someone because they didn't have the fith of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:14-22).    Simon wanted the power of God for his own good and not for the glorification of God (Acts 8), but he could not possess the power because he lacked the faith.   Elijah had his faith tested, tried and trued.  He was willing to put it all on the line for God because He knew the God that was on the line.