ELIJAH

He wasn’t much to look at. He was described as a hairy man, either referring to his own hair or possibly the out turned coats of skins he wore. And he wore a leather girdle and a mantle of skins (II Kings 1:8). John the Baptists’ rough appearance is probably reminiscent of Elijah’s course appearance (Luke 1:17). This simple description was enough for identification to those who knew of him (I Kings 18:7). The Bible doesn’t tell us much about his background except that he was a Tishbite, about which very little is apparently known, except that it was in the rugged region of Gilead (I Kings 17:1).

Elijah’s appearance on the scene corresponded with the depravity perpetrated by wicked king Ahab. “Ahab, the son of Omri, did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him” (I Kings 16:30). He married the infamous Jezebel. She was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon, who, according to some ancient historians, was also a priest of Astarte and possibly Baal. She followed in her father’s steps for four-hundred and fifty of the prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of the grove ate at her table (I King 18:19). She not only supported these pagan prophets but she also actively opposed the prophets of God (I Kings 18:4).

Ahab’s greatest sin was in marrying her and in adopting her religion (I Kings 16:31). He built a house of worship for Baal in Samaria and a grove (I Kings 16:32). There was none like Ahab that sold himself to do evil (I Kings 21:25,26). In short, he did more to anger the Lord than all the other kings that went before him (I Kings 16:33). It is against this backdrop that Elijah appears on the scene of ancient Israel.

Elijah is all business. The first time we are abruptly introduced to this man of God, he boldly confronted Ahab head on and prophesied about a coming drought (I Kings 17:1), which lasted three and a half years (James 5:17). Because of this, Elijah had to flee for his life unto the brook Cherith, where God sent the ravens to feed him as he drank of the pure waters of the brook, which eventually dried up because of the drought (I Kings 17:2-7). A famine soon followed in the land (I Kings 18:2).

When the time came for the drought to end, God sent Elijah right back to Ahab, with the help of the reluctant and fearful Obadiah (I Kings 18:3-16). When Ahab saw Elijah, he asked “Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” (I Kings 18:17). Elijah corrected the wicked king by noting that Elijah had not “troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim” (I Kings 18:18). Those who correct error are not the troublemakers, but those that sin!

Elijah’s boldness as the man of God is demonstrated when he challenged Jezebel’s favored prophets to come to Mt Carmel and prove themselves. As was the nature of his rough character, the prophet Elijah bluntly asked all the people, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him” (I Kings 18:21). God’s people still need to be asked that question. When the prophets of Baal failed the test, Elijah slew them at the brook Kidron (I Kings 18:40).

When Jezebel heard the news how that her favored prophets were destroyed, she intensified her attacks on the divine religion by promising Elijah’s death (I Kings 19:2). Elijah fled once again for life and limb and became despondent, feeling that he was all alone in his defense of the divine religion. The children of Israel had forsaken God’s law, had thrown down His altars, killed the prophets and he was left all alone (I Kings 19:14). But God explained to him that He still had seven thousand that had not bowed the knee to Baal (I Kings 19:18).

Elijah was the unparalleled, ideal prophet of Israel! He was bold in proclaiming the truth of God and fearless in the condemnation of sin. He is the prophet who appeared to Jesus in the transfiguration to represent all the prophets, as Moses represented the law (Matt. 17:1-5). He was the prophet chosen to model the harbinger of the Christ (Mal. 3:1; 4:5; Is. 40:3-5; Matt. 11:7-15; Mark 9:12,13). May a little of the spirit of Elijah pass on us as we serve the Lord.

Eric L. Padgett