Elijah I. Questions A. Who was Elijah? B. What can we learn of his character? C. Why did he become the embodiment of the prophet? II. Background A. Elijah prophesies in the days of Ahab king of Israel (ca. 935-852 BCE; 1 Kings 16:29-33) 1. The Omride dynasty is attested by the Moabite Stele and Assyrian records 2. Under Ahab Israel is at its height socio-politically, likely economically as well 3. Battle of Qarqar: in 853 BCE, according to Kurkh Stela, Shalmaneser I of Assyria fought against Hadadezer (Ben Hadad II?) of Aram and allied kings, including Ahab of Israel; in the stela Shalmaneser made his boasts, yet he did not prove able to truly conquer Aram, thus indicating he was fought to a stalemate 4. It is possible the Assyrians were not as strong under Shalmaneser I as they would be under later kings; yet Aram and Israel were far stronger in the middle of the ninth century BCE than they would be a century later 5. Meanwhile Ahab as doing more evil in Israel than all who came before him: it was a "little thing" for him to walk in the way of Jeroboam, son of Nebat 6. Married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon; a politically convenient move 7. He served Baal, built Asherah; provoked YHWH more than any king who came before him; it all seemed like good politics, but it did not end well B. Elijah the Tishbite 1. The book of Kings, mostly about the kings and less about the prophets, now spends as much if not more time on Elijah and Elisha as it does the kings 2. Elijah the Tishbite introduced in 1 Kings 17:1, no statement of origin a. From Tishbe in Gilead b. Believed now to be the same as Thisbe in the territory of Naphthali c. Elijah = Eliyahu, "Yahweh is God" III. The Story A. The Drought (1 Kings 17) 1. The first event in Elijah's work: summons of drought (1 Kings 17:1, James 5:17-18) 2. An act of great significance; Baal, Asherah considered as fertility deities a. Baal's "victory" over Mot (death) would bring fertility; "loss" to Mot brings famine b. Priests of Baal, Jezebel, and likely Ahab would pray fervently, offer sacrifices to Baal to bring rains c. None would come; a demonstration that YHWH is God, not Baal 3. God tells Elijah to hide in the eastern desert regions of the Transjordan; ravens fed him there; stayed until water dried up (1 Kings 17:2-8) 4. God then tells Elijah to flee to Zarephath of Sidon to a particular widow; she has but one jar of flour and oil; in name of YHWH, it will not run out until end of drought (1 Kings 17:9-16, Luke 4:25-26) 5. Widow's son becomes ill and dies; Elijah cries to YHWH, the boy is revived; widow sees that Elijah is a man of God (1 Kings 17:17-24) B. The Contest (1 Kings 18) 1. After three and a half years, Elijah told to go up and meet Ahab; message sent to Ahab via Obadiah; Ahab calls Elijah troubler of Israel, Elijah responds that it is Ahab who has done so; summons for prophets of Baal and Asherah to meet Elijah at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:1-20) 2. Contest: Altars made, sacrifice prepared: Baal prophets to call upon Baal to bring down fire from heaven, Elijah to call upon YHWH to do same; fire does not come for prophets of Baal; fire from YHWH consumes sacrifice and water around the altar; Israel declares that YHWH is God (1 Kings 18:21-39) 3. Baal prophets seized, killed; rain again comes upon the earth (1 Kings 18:40-46) C. The Retreat (1 Kings 19) 1. Jezebel threatens Elijah's life on account of the death of prophets; Elijah afraid, flees to Beersheba; goes into wilderness, desires to die; sustained by food from angels; travels to Horeb on strength of food for 40 days (1 Kings 19:1-8) 2. YHWH comes to Elijah there in the thin quiet presence; Elijah declares that he has been jealous for YHWH of hosts, but people have torn down His altars, killed His prophets, and he alone is left; they want to kill him too; God tells him to go, anoint Hazael over Aram, Elisha as prophet in Elijah's stead, Jehu over Israel; there are 7000 that have not bowed to Baal (1 Kings 19:9-18, Romans 11:2-4) 3. Elijah departs and finds Elisha son of Shaphat, throws his cloak over him; Elisha goes with Elijah and assists him (1 Kings 19:19-21) D. Ahab and Jezebel's Condemnation (1 Kings 21) 1. Matter of vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite: Ahab wants it, Naboth will not give it up; Ahab has hissy fit; Jezebel conspires to have Naboth killed, then takes his vineyard from him (1 Kings 21:1-16) 2. Word of YHWH comes to Elijah: dogs will lick blood of Ahab in Naboth's vineyard; Ahab does not like to see Elijah; Elijah pronounces disaster on Ahab's house; it will be as desolate as Jeroboam's and Baasha's; dogs will eat Jezebel's body in the walls of Jezreel (1 Kings 21:17-26) 3. On hearing this, Ahab humbles himself, wears sackcloth; God indicates to Elijah that because of this the disaster will not come on Ahab but on his descendants (1 Kings 21:27-29) E. Ahaziah's Condemnation (2 Kings 1) 1. Ahaziah son of Ahab falls, is ill, tells men to inquire of Baal-zebub of Ekron whether he will recover; Elijah meets men, condemns Ahaziah for not seeking YHWH but Baal-zebub, declares Ahaziah will die (2 Kings 1:2-4) 2. Messengers return to Ahaziah with Elijah's message; Elijah as one wearing a garment of hair with leather belt around his waist (2 Kings 1:5-8) 3. Ahaziah sends series of companies of 50 to escort Elijah to him; first two groups consumed by fire from heaven; official of third company begs mercy from Elijah; YHWH tells Elijah to go with this company; condemns Ahaziah in person; it comes to pass (2 Kings 1:9-16) F. Elijah condemns Jehoram, king of Judah, by letter (2 Chronicles 21:12-15) G. Elijah's Translation (2 Kings 2) 1. Elijah and Elisha made aware that Elijah was to be taken; they travel from Gilgal to the Transjordan, with sons of the prophets telling Elisha what was to take place; Elijah strikes Jordan with his cloak, he and Elisha cross as on dry ground (2 Kings 2:1-8) 2. Elijah asks Elisha for any requests; Elisha asks for a double portion of spirit of Elijah's spirit on him; Elijah says it is a hard thing, and he will get it if he sees Elijah taken; if he does not see Elijah taken, will not receive it (2 Kings 2:9-10) 3. As they speak, chariots of separate them; Elijah taken up in a whirlwind without that cloak; Elisha then takes up Elijah's mantle (2 Kings 1:11-13) 4. Thus Elijah taken up, or translated, into heaven; he, along with Enoch, the two men to never die in Scripture (cf. Genesis 5:24) H. Other References to Elijah 1. Elisha walks in spirit of Elijah, known as the one who poured water on Elijah's hands (2 Kings 2:15, 3:11) 2. Jehu will see decrees of God to Ahab and Jezebel fulfilled, says so (2 Kings 9:36, 10:10, 10:17) 3. Malachi predicts that God will send Elijah the prophet before the day of the Lord comes; he will turn hearts of fathers to children, children to fathers; the last message of the Old Testament (Malachi 4:5-6) 4. Gabriel says, and Jesus affirms, despite his own protestations, that John the Baptist is the Elijah to come (Matthew 11:14, 17:10-13, Mark 9:11-13, Luke 1:17, John 1:21, 25) 5. Jesus declared by the people to perhaps be Elijah (Matthew 16:14, Mark 6:15, 8:28, Luke 9:8, 19) 6. Jesus, in the Transfiguration, spoke with Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:3 / Mark 9:4 / Luke 9:30) 7. Jesus believed to be calling upon Elijah in His death; expectation perhaps that Elijah would save Him (Matthew 27:46-49 / Mark 15:34-36) I. Thus we have the Scriptural record on Elijah IV. Application A. Speaking Truth to Power 1. Elijah was commissioned in a very dark hour to speak truth to power 2. Israel's apostasy had never been greater 3. And yet, through his predictions and actions, conditions would improve some 4. There are times in life when it is important to stand up for what is right and good, even if it is unpopular and causes criticism 5. Would conditions have improved had Elijah not dared to take on Ahab and Jezebel? B. Times of Retreat 1. Despite his boldness, Elijah often nowhere to be found 2. It was not considered cowardly or chicken to retreat at times 3. Elijah in the desert of the Transjordan, in Zarephath of Sidon, even down to Horeb 4. Sometimes the best tactical decision is to retreat to gain strength (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:18) 5. In the spiritual war there is always a time needed to personally withdraw and commune with God (Ephesians 6:10-18) C. Times of Weakness 1. Elijah often seems larger than life, almost stoic in his stand for YHWH 2. Yet we see that he truly is a man with a nature like ours in 1 Kings 19 (cf. James 5:17) 3. He gets depressed, distressed, feels as if he is the only one left 4. Gently censured for that belief in his singularity; otherwise, God provides comfort and hope, and that hope is eventually realized 5. If we are honest with ourselves, despite the outward appearance of steadfastness, we all have weak moments 6. It can be easy to develop the "Elijah complex" and feel alone out there 7. Yet we are not (1 Peter 5:9) 8. In our times of retreat, we must not be overtaken by bitterness, distress, anxiety, or despair, but be comforted and sustained by God to go out again and strive for His contest! 9. Furthermore, God's providing of Elisha to Elijah demonstrates that spiritual companionship is at least part of the antidote to the "Elijah complex"! D. The Power of Prayer 1. This is James' lesson for us from Elijah's example (James 5:17-18) 2. James speaks of how Elijah prayed and it did not rain for three and a half years 3. He tries to remove the distance by indicating that Elijah was a man with a "nature like ours" 4. Elijah goes to show that while we are weak, God is mighty, and through our petitions God might work powerful and mighty accomplishments 5. But we can only know that if we are righteous and if we try! V. Conclusion A. Thus we have the life and example of Elijah B. Understandably seen as the representative prophet 1. A message of warning to power 2. The hope of better days 3. Righteous living, steadfastness 4. Yet still human, weak at times; sustained always by God C. Let us seek to live righteously and proclaim the message of God as Elijah did! D. Invitation/songbook Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the sight of YHWH than all who were before him. As if following in the sinful footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not bad enough, he married Jezebel the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians. Then he worshiped and bowed to Baal (1 Kings 16:30-31). By most historical measures Ahab would be celebrated as the greatest king of the Kingdom of Israel. Israel was strong in his time; he and the Arameans fought off the Assyrians under Shalmaneser I; he maintained strong diplomacy and effective foreign policy. Yet it all led him to compromise faith in YHWH. In the Kings narrative he is remembered as the worst king of Israel precisely because of such compromises. A prophet would arise to stand against him. What can Ahab teach us about the differences between socio-political history and theological history? 2: Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As certainly as YHWH God of Israel lives (whom I serve), there will be no dew or rain in the years ahead unless I give the command" (1 Kings 17:1). Elijah ("YHWH is God") the Tishbite arose as a prophet in the days of Ahab. Ahab's wife and family put confidence in the Canaanite storm god Baal. By Elijah's word it would not rain in Israel for years. The prophets of Baal would be humiliated in a contest with Elijah. Elijah thus demonstrated how YHWH, not Baal, was God. How did Israel rationalize its polytheism? What was the difficulty with their logic? 3: He answered, "I have been absolutely loyal to the YHWH God of Heaven's Armies, even though the Israelites have abandoned the covenant they made with you, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life" (1 Kings 19:10). Immediately after his greatest success, Elijah was driven to deep despair by Jezebel's continual hostility. He fled to Horeb in the Wilderness. God sustained him there. He felt as if he were alone in serving YHWH. YHWH told him to get to work; there were many thousands who had not bowed the knee to Baal. We are often tempted to wonder if we are alone in our service to God. God would remind us regarding the many faithful people who exist around the world. Can we understand Elijah's despair? Where can we find comfort and strength? 4: "Look, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of YHWH arrives. He will encourage fathers and their children to return to me, so that I will not come and strike the earth with judgment" (Malachi 4:5-6). Elijah proved faithful to God; he commissioned Elisha to serve as prophet after him, and God carried Elijah up to heaven. Ever afterward Israel expected Elijah to return; Malachi promised Elijah would return before the great day of YHWH would arrive. John the Baptist came to Israel in the spirit of Elijah and prepared the way for YHWH in the flesh, Jesus of Nazareth, to come. How can we honor what God has spoken through the prophets?