THE STORY OF THE PROPHET ELIJAH
Prophet Elias, also known as Elijah was born in a remote and
little known Village called Tishbe, which lies among the mountains of Gilead,
on the other side of the Jordan River. This area is not too far from the
country of the Gergesenes, where, in the time of our Lord the devils entered
into the swine. (Luke. 8:26-39) The book of Kings of the Bible, make the
following record about Elias“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the
inhabitants of Gilead” (I Kings, 17:1) He was born and raised by a Jewish
family of which we know nothing. His birth place Tishbe, is interpreted to mean
a converter and the name Elijah as “My God of power” or “Jehovah is my
strength”. We know nothing about his childhood and his life. Most probably
Elias was a child with no education or schooling. His fathers name was Sadok
while we know nothing about his mother. In the Book of Kings, we find Elias
entering the stage of history, abruptly out of nowhere, with a word of faith
and power presenting himself to the king saying“And Elijah the Tishbite said
Unto Ahab. “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall
not be dew or rain these years, but according to my word.” (I Kings,
17:1)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Elias lived during the Kingship of the sixth King of Israel,
Ahab (854-873 B.C) son of Omri. He ruled Samaria for twenty two years. Ahab was
married to have a wife named Jezebel. She was the Daughter of the King Ethbaal
of Sidon and worshiped Baal. (I Kings 16:29-31). Ahab with the help of his wife
continued his father’s political motives new idolatry worshiping the idolatrous
god Baal. All citizens were to worship the idols of Baal, instead, of the one
true God, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. The worshipers of the true God
were persecuted with fire and sword. Idols and temples were everywhere. Evil
times were all over the land. In every direction were build gloomy idols and
temples.
Ever since the death of Solomon Idolatry was coming like flood. King Jeroboam, the son of Solomon, the Kingdom of Israel became divided into two Kingdoms. The two tribes of Judah and Benjamin stayed faithful to the house of David and formed Southern kingdom of Judah with the capital Jerusalem; while the ten tribes became the Northern kingdom of Israel. With the capital of Samaria. The two Kingdoms were at a perpetual war with each other. This however, was not the greatest evil. Worst of all was the internal, political and religious, disorder. The Kings of Israel and most especially Jeroboam, for their own political interest began initiating this new idolatry. Jeroboam began making imitations of the Golden Cherubim of the Temple. He transferred some festivals to other seasons and chose priest out of all the tribes instead of the tribe of Levi. This unlawful worship found its peak and became open idolatry to all when Ahab the
Ever since the death of Solomon Idolatry was coming like flood. King Jeroboam, the son of Solomon, the Kingdom of Israel became divided into two Kingdoms. The two tribes of Judah and Benjamin stayed faithful to the house of David and formed Southern kingdom of Judah with the capital Jerusalem; while the ten tribes became the Northern kingdom of Israel. With the capital of Samaria. The two Kingdoms were at a perpetual war with each other. This however, was not the greatest evil. Worst of all was the internal, political and religious, disorder. The Kings of Israel and most especially Jeroboam, for their own political interest began initiating this new idolatry. Jeroboam began making imitations of the Golden Cherubim of the Temple. He transferred some festivals to other seasons and chose priest out of all the tribes instead of the tribe of Levi. This unlawful worship found its peak and became open idolatry to all when Ahab the
King with his wife Jezebel ascended to the throne of Israel. Jezebel, the ungodly woman of Sidon, managed with the approval of her husband King Ahab to issue an edict, declaring that the official religion of the house of Israel was to be the worshiping of idolatrous god Baal. She maintained and supported the prophets of Baal and forced all citizens to worship the idols, instead of the one true God the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Idols and temples were erected everywhere. Evil times cover the whole land. All worshipers of the true God were persecuted with fire and sword.
THE PROPHETIC DENUNCIATION
Among these awful times Elias, the man of God, as if dropped
from heaven in the middle of such political and religious unrest stood up
to Ahab and Jezebel saying.” And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the
inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lived, before
whom I stand, not the dew nor rain these years, but according to my word” (I
Kings,17:1). Indeed no dew or rain fell upon the earth for three years. The
drought was so intense the land begun to dry out. The animals were dying all
over from lack of food and water and people suffered from not having water to
drink. Elias himself suffered in the common calamity among with the people near
the brook of Cherith, surviving only from the little water coming from the
brook, and food brought to him by the ravens morning and night. “And the ravens
brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening.
(I Kings, 17:6) For twelve months Elijah stayed by the brook, in solitude and
prayer. Eventually, because of the extended drought, the brook dried up.
At last, water was no longer to be found. Elias having no water to drink was forced
to seek new place to stay.
ELIAS STAYING AT
ZAR-EPHATH
In the mist of the severe drought the Lord appears again to
him saying: “Get thee to, Zar’ephath and dwell there: behold I have
commanded a widow woman to sustain thee” (I Kings, 17:2-9). At Zar’ephath,
Elijah stayed with the widow and her son for two years and some months. While
he was there the son of the widow died and the prophet with the power of prayer
miraculously raised the boy. (I kings, 17:17-24)
ELIAS AND OBADIAH
The times were gone by with no repentance or
changes in the mind of the king or his wife Jezebel. The Lord again, who cares
for his people, but never forgets those who believe in Him, appeared to Elijah
saying: go back to Ahab and declare to him that the true god is ready to prove
to his people. “go show thyself to Ahab; and I will send rain (I Kings 18:1)
and summoned him, that the Lord is about to show many wonders and mighty deeds,
that he is to prove to his people that He, is God alone and no one else, and
Baal is to be overthrown. On his way to the King's palace Elijah met Obadiah,
the king’s servant and said to him “now go tell thy lord, behold, Elijah is
here” (I Kings 18:16) and Obadiah did as Elijah told him and Ahab went to meet
Elijah. When Elijah saw King
Ahab said to him “Now therefore”, said Elijah authoritatively, like a representative of God, “O King! Send, and gather unto the Mount of Carmel four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and four hundred prophets of the goddess of Ashram, who are supported by Queen Jezebel, and have them sacrifice to their gods and ask their god to send fire and burn the sacrificial offering. I, on the other hand, will sacrifice to the true God of Israel, and ask the same. Whichever God consumes the sacrificial offering, I want you to declare to the nation as being the true God. (I Kings. 18; 17-20)
Ahab said to him “Now therefore”, said Elijah authoritatively, like a representative of God, “O King! Send, and gather unto the Mount of Carmel four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and four hundred prophets of the goddess of Ashram, who are supported by Queen Jezebel, and have them sacrifice to their gods and ask their god to send fire and burn the sacrificial offering. I, on the other hand, will sacrifice to the true God of Israel, and ask the same. Whichever God consumes the sacrificial offering, I want you to declare to the nation as being the true God. (I Kings. 18; 17-20)
ELIAS PRAYER AT MOUNT CARMEL
Ahab, as was told by Elijah, went up to Mount Carmel. There
he summoned the Prophets of Baal 450 in number and ordered them to pray to Baal
and prove to the people that Baal is the true God. The prophets of Baal
sacrificed and prayed all day long asking their god to send fire, but to
no avail. From morning to night they were praying and saying “Hear us, O Baal,
hear us. And there was no voice” (I Kings 18:20-29). Then came the time for
Prophet Elias to do his part. Elias took twelve stones one for each of the
twelve sons of Jacob to whom the Lord had given the name Israel. With
these stones he rebuilt the altar for the worship of the Lord. He then prayed saying:
“O Lord, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, prove that our God is the God of
Israel. I m your servant and I have done all these at your command” (I Kings
18.30-39). Immediately the Lord sends fire down and burned up
the sacrifice. And the people immediately shouted “The Lord is God; The
Lord alone is God” (I Kings 18:39).
Ahab having no other choice ordered according to the word of Prophet Elias the prophets of Baal to be slaughtered. Immediately clouds appeared in the sky and the heavens opened and rain came down and the drought ended.
Ahab having no other choice ordered according to the word of Prophet Elias the prophets of Baal to be slaughtered. Immediately clouds appeared in the sky and the heavens opened and rain came down and the drought ended.
ANGEL VISIT UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE
Prophet Elias following the event at mountain Carmel, left
and walked all day. When evening came he slept under a tree and the Angel of
the Lord appeared to him in his sleep saying: “arise eat and drink for
you have a long way to go” and Elias did as the Lord commanded him. Morning
came an Elias left and walked for forty days and forty nights and came by
the mountain Horeb. At the mountain he found a cave and stayed. And Lord appeared
again to him saying. Leave the mountain and go to Damascus to anoint
Hazael as King of Syria and Jehu as king of Israel and Elisa to be your
successor to carry on the prophetic mission. (I Kings, 19:1-17) Elias did as
the Lord commanded him.
NABOTH'S VINEYARD
Elias raised his voice once again against King Ahab in the
case of Naboth's vineyard. King Ahab wanted to acquire the vineyard of Jabot,
who did not want to sell it. Jezebel initiated a trial in which she sentenced
Nabuthai Jabot to death on a fabricated charge. Following the execution
of Naboth, Ahab took possession of the vineyard. Elijah openly accused
Ahab as a murderer and robber announcing a doom to the royal
house (I Kings 21:17-24).
THE ASCENTION OF PROPHET ELIAS
The last moments of Elias are not as one could imagine.
Elias, according to the Holy Scriptures, did not die. He was ascended to
heaven in whirlwind as Elisha saw with his own eyes. The two men as they were
passing on together in the country beyond Jordan and while they engaged in holy
conversation, “behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire,
and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by whirlwind into heaven. (2
Kings, 2:11).
CONCLUSION
The prophetic mission of the prophet lasted fifteen years
and made a profound impression on the imagination of the people of Israel.
Later generations remembered Elijah and expected him to return
as the forerunner of the coming day of the Lord. (Mal. 4:5)
In the New Testament. People during the times of Jesus thought He was Elijah himself (Matt.16:14, Luke.8) others thought John the Baptist was Elijah (John 1:21). At the transfiguration of Jesus, Elijah appeared together with Moses. (Matt.17:3-4; Mark.9:4-5).
In the New Testament. People during the times of Jesus thought He was Elijah himself (Matt.16:14, Luke.8) others thought John the Baptist was Elijah (John 1:21). At the transfiguration of Jesus, Elijah appeared together with Moses. (Matt.17:3-4; Mark.9:4-5).
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