Elijah

ELIJAH

Scripture references:
1 Kings 17–19; 2 Kings 1–2;
Malachi 4; Matthew 11, 17;
Mark 9; Luke 1, 4, 9;
John 1; James 5:17

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ELIJAH’S ROLE IN SCRIPTURE

Elijah lived at a critical time in the history of the northern kingdom, Israel. From its origin in 930 b.c., Israel had been ruled by kings who refused to submit to God’s will. The first ruler of the north, Jeroboam I, had designed a counterfeit worship system to keep his citizens from going to Jerusalem, the capital of the southern kingdom, Judah, to worship. In the 850s, King Ahab, encouraged by his wife Jezebel, initiated an active campaign to wipe out the worship of Yahweh in Israel and replace it with worship of Baal. Jezebel had imported some 850 pagan prophets from her homeland and at the same time had set out to exterminate any prophets of the Lord who remained in Israel. It was then that Elijah appeared, and demonstrated the power of the Lord first by bringing a three-and-a-half-year drought that devastated Israel, and then by defeating 450 prophets of Baal in a contest on Mount Carmel. The outcome was that the people of Israel, who had been wavering, affirmed that “the Lord, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39). The efforts of Ahab and Jezebel were stymied, and while the counterfeit religious system existing in Israel was not changed, the Israelites were turned back to the Lord.

This confrontational ministry of Elijah and its great national impact serve in Scripture as a model for the ministry of a prophet predicted in Malachi 4:5–6.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet

Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

And he will turn

The hearts of the fathers to the children,

And the hearts of the children to their fathers,

Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.

Elijah and the Malachi prophecy are referred to frequently in the Gospels. A prophet with an Elijah-like ministry (or, some say, Elijah himself!) will appear before the Messiah sets up His kingdom. John the Baptist had this kind of ministry, but Israel did not respond, and so the Elijah prophecy was not fulfilled in John.

James 5 also contains a significant reference to Elijah. James encouraged his readers to pray and declared that “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit” (James 5:17–18). The inspired author focused on two matters: Elijah’s humanity and his prayer.

EXPLORING ELIJAH’S RELATIONSHIPS

Elijah’s relationship with Israel’s rulers (1 Kings 17–19; 2 Kings 1).Elijah dealt with rulers who were utterly hostile to God and thus to him. Four incidents illustrate the antagonism that existed between the rulers and God’s prophet.

Elijah announced a drought (1 Kings 17). God sent Elijah to Ahab to announce that for three years there would be neither rain nor dew in Israel. For those three years the prophet was hidden from the king, who searched for him as the land withered under the drought. Ahab had the largest chariot army in the region, and he was unable to find provisions for his horses.

Elijah proposed a test (1 Kings 18). After three and a half years, God sent Elijah to confront Ahab again. Elijah proposed a test of God’s power versus Baal’s power. Ahab, who seems actually to have had some confidence in Baal’s powers, agreed. For hours, the prophets of Baal called on their deity with no response. But as soon as Elijah prayed, fire fell from heaven and consumed the offering Elijah had laid out. The people, who had been wavering, were convinced. At Elijah’s words, the people killed the prophets of Baal. Elijah then prayed for rain, and the drought was broken.

Elijah pronounced Ahab’s doom (1 Kings 21). Ahab’s wife Jezebel arranged the judicial murder of Naboth, a man whose vineyard Ahab coveted. Although Ahab had not conspired to commit the murder, he gladly went down to inspect the property when Jezebel told him what she had done. Elijah confronted Ahab there, and announced God’s judgment on the wicked pair. Ahab put on sackcloth, fasted, and wept to demonstrate his repentance. God put off the punishment He decreed on Ahab’s dynasty. Later the king ignored the warning of another prophet and was killed in battle.

Elijah announced the death of Ahaziah, Ahab’s son and successor (2 Kings 1). When King Ahaziah was injured, he sent messengers to inquire of a foreign deity whether he would survive. Elijah intercepted the messengers and announced that since Ahaziah had not seen fit to inquire of the Lord, he would surely die. The king sent several troops of soldiers to bring Elijah to him. Elijah called down fire from heaven on two of the companies, but when the captain of the third squad showed respect for the Lord and His power, God told Elijah to accompany them to the king.

In each of these situations Elijah was called to a ministry of judgment. Each placed Elijah in potential danger at the hands of a hostile king. Yet, Elijah faithfully carried out each mission and was protected by the Lord.

Elijah’s relationship with Elisha(1 Kings 19:19–21; 2 Kings 2). Near the end of his ministry Elijah became despondent and discouraged. It seemed to him that everyone had abandoned the Lord. At this point, God selected Elisha as a companion and an apprentice for Elijah.

When God took Elijah into heaven, Elisha became the premier prophet in Israel. While Elijah’s ministry had been one of confrontation and judgment—as demonstrated in the miracles attributed to him—Elisha benefited from his predecessor’s impact on the average Israelite. Elisha’s ministry was marked by miracles that aided both the nation and godly individuals.

Elijah’s relationship with the Lord(1 Kings 19). When we read of Elijah’s accomplishments, he comes across as a fierce and fearless individual. Whatever God called Elijah to do, he did boldly. Yet, James reminded us that Elijah was a “man with a nature like ours” (James 5:17).

God provided for Elijah (1 Kings 17).During the years of drought when Elijah was hiding from Ahab, God provided for him in supernatural ways. Ravens provided his food by the brook Cherith, and later God miraculously extended the supply of food of a widow with whom Elijah stayed.

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Elijah’s victory on Mount Carmel convinced the wavering Israelites that the Lord truly was God.

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God ministered to a despondent Elijah (1 Kings 19).Elijah’s humanity came through most clearly after his victory on Mount Carmel. When Jezebel heard that Elijah had ordered the prophets of Baal killed, the queen sent a death threat to the prophet. Elijah was terrified, and ran for his life.

While terror gripped Elijah, the Lord supplied him with the strength he needed to flee. Finally exhausted after a forty-day journey, Elijah stopped running at Mount Sinai [called Horeb here]. God spoke to him there, and Elijah shared his despair:

“I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (1 Kings 19:10).

Often emotional highs are followed by emotional lows. This was surely Elijah’s experience. In the grip of depression, Elijah could not see matters clearly.

Rather than rebuke Elijah, God ministered to His prophet in specific and gracious ways.

•     God spoke to Elijah in a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12). Elijah needed to know God cared and the gentle response of the Lord communicated this reality powerfully.

•     God gave Elijah a task to complete (1 Kings 19:15–17). Elijah was sent to anoint two future kings who would bring an end to Ahab and his line. A depressed person often feels overwhelmed. Elijah needed to have a clear and obtainable goal set for him.

•     God gave Elijah a companion, Elisha (1 Kings 19:16). A depressed person typically feels isolated and alone. This certainly describes Elijah, who had complained, “I alone am left.” Elisha would become Elijah’s friend and companion as well as his successor.

•     God gave Elijah perspective (1 Kings 19:18). Elijah was wrong in his belief that all except him had abandoned the Lord. God told him, “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal.”

Truly Elijah was “a man with a nature like ours” (James 5:17), and just as surely God graciously ministered to Elijah. Elijah had given his life to serve God, but God also was dedicated to serve Elijah.

ELIJAH: AN EXAMPLE FOR TODAY

Elijah provides us a picture of the prophet as a lonely man—a man dedicated to God in a hostile society. Elijah was bold and brave, but Elijah was merely human. His dedication to God placed strains on him that led to the recorded bout of fear and depression. Elijah’s experience reminds us that while commitment to the Lord may increase the stress in our life, the Lord is committed to us and will meet us in our need. From Elijah we discover much about the cost and the rewards of commitment.

•     Elijah reminds us that we may find ourselves in situations where we feel that we alone have remained faithful to the Lord. Should this happen, we are to be bold and speak up for Him as Elijah did.

•     Elijah reminds us that when we feel weakest God may be the closest to us, ready to whisper to us in a still, small voice.

•     Elijah reminds us that God is never critical of our human limitations. God understands us, and cares. He knows how to provide what we need to go on with life.

•     Elijah reminds us that we need God’s perspective always. However alone we may feel, many others love God equally and share our experiences.

•     Elijah reminds us that we, too, need the companionship of like-minded believers. Today, you and I can find this companionship with others in the church, the body of Christ. Let’s seek fellowship there, that we might offer and receive support.

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