Later we read about Elijah at MT. Carmel, is story about a lot of things, but the key to the whole thing. Elijah goes there and the prophets of Baal showed up, the stage is set. First and foremost the altar that was there had to be rebuilt, restored, then and only then did the fire fall on the blood that had been shed.
Only when Elijah repented for the nation for what they had done did God accept his sacrifice and sent fire and then the Prophets of Baal were killed. Maybe things would have been different if Saul had done the same. Rebuilding a small altar was easier than running around the country side. Elijah told the people gathered there that day “How long will you haul between two options” (1 Kings 18:21)
Carmel was a place to make a