This haftorah has a clear connection to the Torah portion -- in both readings, the People of Israel have failed in their faith, falling to idol-worship, and need to be dramatically set back on the right path. The Torah portion recounts the incident of the Golden Calf, while the Haftorah portion shows Elijah challenging the priests of Baal to a "sacrifice contest".
Interestingly enough, in the Torah portion, no "proof" was necessary. As soon as Moses returned from the mountain, the people were shamed into repentance. In the Haftorah reading, however, the people had been worshiping idols for so long that they no longer revered the Jewish prophets, and a dramatic presentation was necessary to shake them up.
So often today, we require such dramatic presentations in order to make a change in our lives. If only we were able to appreciate a "prophetic presence" for what it is and respond correctly when we stray.
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