Prophet Elijah

Elijah: Died 851BC

King Solomon was succeeded by Rehoboam but his failure to address economic issues between northern and southern tribes led to Israel’s division into two kingdoms; the Kingdom of Israel which included Samaria and Jericho, and the Kingdom of Judah with Jerusalem as its main city.

Elijah, a prophet, lived in the kingdom of Israel during the reign of Ahab (ca 871-851). Ahab was seen as wayward, leading his people to idolatry and the worship of the god Baal.

Elijah warned the people against turning from God and prophecised a great drought as punishment, ending only at God’s command through him. The people didn’t listen.

During the drought and ensuing famine, Elijah travelled north to Zarephath in Sidonian. At the city gate, he met a widow and asked her for a cup of water and a piece of bread. She replied that she was in the process of gathering wood to make one final meal for herself and her son using the last of her flour and oil. Elijah said, “Don’t be afraid. Go and do as you planned. But first make a small cake for me and bring it to me; then make something for yourself and your son”. For God says, “The jar of flour will not be empty and the jug of oil will not run out until the day the Lord makes it rain on the surface of the ground”. (1 Kings 17:13-14)

The widow did as Elijah instructed and God’s word was fulfilled. Neither the flour nor oil ran out during the famine which lasted three years; Elijah, the widow and her family ate daily from the supply.

Elijah performed many other miracles through the power of God. Once when the widow’s son was severely ill and “he could no longer breathe,”  she said to Elijah, “Why, prophet, have you come to me to confront me with my sin and kill my son?” Elijah took her son in his arms to an upper room, laid him on the bed and prayed over him. God answered Elijah’s prayer and restored her son to life. (1 Kings 17:17-18)

In the third year of the famine, God told Elijah to return to king Abad. On meeting the king, he challenged him and his prophets to invoke their god Baal. He invited them to bring two bulls, one for them to sacrifice to Baal and one for Elijah to sacrifice to his God. However, neither bull must be set alight but instead, each god invited to set their own sacrifice on fire. The God that sets it alight would, therefore, be the true God. The king accepted the challenge.

Abad’s prophets prayed, danced, sang and mutilated their bodies in adoration of their god but he didn’t answer! Elijah then instructed the saturation of his sacrifice with water and as he prayed to God, “Fire from the Lord fell from the sky [and] it consumed the offering”.  (1 Kings 18:38) As the astonished people repented of their sins and sought forgiveness, Elijah ordered the seizing of the false prophets and their execution. Afterwards, Elijah prayed to God again and rain fell on the land, ending the three-year drought.

Elisha, who was chosen as Elijah’s successor, went with him and other prophets to Jericho and from there to the River Jordan. Elijah, knowing his time on earth was at an end, took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the river. Immediately, the river parted allowing Elijah and Elisha to cross over. On the other side, Elisha watched a flaming chariot and horses come between them and in a whirlwind, take Elijah to heaven. Elisha then tore his cloak and taking Elijah’s cloak, returned to the river, struck the waters and the waters parted allowing him to return to the other side. Elisha was now God’s chosen leader.