They called out louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears as was their custom but there was no answer from their god. The day-long “show-down” that took place between Elijah and the prophets of Baal reads like a drama and comes to us in a manner that depicts pitying the one true God against other gods (Baal). And as was expected, the one true God, the God of Elijah, emerged “victorious.” However, there is a subtle teaching that needs not to be overshadowed by the drama. 
Elijah taunted the prophets of Baal that perhaps their god was on a journey, asleep, or had retired and as such could not hear their loud cries. This prompted the prophets of Baal to go to great lengths to make their case, including cutting themselves with swords, but nothing seemed to bear fruit. Nothing of what they did seemed to catch the attention of Baal. Baal was unreachable and consequently could not attend to their needs. I believe the people who were watching the spectacle were aware of this all along (after Elijah’s sacrifice went up in flames, they declared Elijah’s God to be the Lord), yet they allowed themselves to be misled into worshipping false gods. 
Elijah did not have to put a show, because the God he worshipped was not a God of a show. He did not have to slash himself to gain the attention of his God, for the Lord God does not delight in human sacrifice. Elijah’s sacrifice went up in flames because the God he worshipped was a God who was close to the people, a God who  never goes on a journey, a God who  never sleeps (cf. Psalm 121:1-5). Elijah’s offering went up in flames because the God to whom he called out has ears and could hear him (cf. Psalm 115:6). The people suffered the effects of the famine because they had refused to call out to God. Had they called out to God, God would have come to their aid, just as he did come to the aid of Elijah.