Elijah was an Old Testament prophet remembered for his courage and commitment to prayer. His story is relatable for anyone who doesn’t understand God’s plan for their life!
Name
Elijah has been translated as "Yahweh is my God,” or “Yahweh is my strength."
Outstanding Characteristics
Courage and prayerfulness.
Summary
Elijah was a courageous and prayerful prophet active during a time when Israel opted to worship Baal instead of the Lord. King Ahab married Jezebel in order to form an alliance with Sidon and Elijah was sent to confront Israel, calling out their sin and encouraging them to return to the Lord. His ministry is presented in six episodes, most of which focus on the clash between the true God of Israel and the false god Baal. When the foreign princess Jezebel, who supported the worship of Baal, oppressed and executed the prophets of God, Elijah pronounced a drought and went into hiding for three years. He then returned, challenging and defeating the prophets of Baal in a contest on mount Carmel when the Lord answered Elijah’s prayer with fire from heaven. Elijah escaped to Horeb where the Lord encouraged the disheartened prophet. God called Elijah to a showdown with Ahab when Jezebel, disdaining the pro-family Mosaic law, murdered Naboth for his vineyard. When Ahaziah, Ahab’s son, became king, Elijah confronted him over his decision to consult a false god. Finally, Elijah’s life and ministry end when the Lord took him to heaven in a whirlwind, leaving his successor Elisha to carry on.
Key Scripture
Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets.” (1 Kings 18:21–22)
Lessons Learned
1. Committed allegiance: divided allegiance is as wrong as open idolatry
The easiest thing to do when outnumbered or facing the world’s evil is to assume a mediocre stance of non-commitment. But if you try to straddle a religious fence, as the Israelites did, you court the danger of falling off on the wrong side.
2. Effective prayerfulness: our most effective tool is prayer
In contrast with Baal’s prophets, Elijah simply prayed. He didn’t do anything flashy. He didn’t draw attention to himself. He didn’t try to take on the false prophets in his own power. Elijah just prayed that God would affirm what he had been telling the people so they would know the Lord wanted them back. Prayer doesn’t manipulate God into doing what we want. Rather, it expresses our willingness to conform the desires of our hearts to the desires of His. Prayer invites God to work so that others might see that He is real and turn to Him.
3. Courageous dedication: never underestimate the power of one life courageously dedicated to the Lord
The 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah were no match for Elijah because his life was wholly devoted to the Lord’s service. God works, even through frail people like us, when our hearts are completely His. Elijah’s courageous faith encourages us to live in a way that reveals to others the reality of God. Our task is to help them comprehend God’s truth and feel His love so much that they too turn their hearts to Him.
4. Feeling discouraged: being a person of faith does not mean that we will never feel discouraged
Elijah’s story is both comforting and encouraging. God’s plan didn’t make sense to Elijah and he felt discouraged and alone. Even still he searched for God when he faced adversity. In return, Elijah saw God’s power displayed: when He brought the widow’s son back from the dead, when He triumphed on Mt. Carmel, and when He rained down fire from heaven upon the king’s men.
The courageous and prayerful prophet Elijah reminds us that even if we feel alone, we can still trust God to show up in our time of need.
