Elijah Series

February 11, 2023

The bible tells us Elijah was from the town of Tishbe, but we don’t anything about his background or who his parents were.

His name means, “Yahweh is my God,” and he certainly lived up to his name, standing in sharp contrast against the idolatry of the day. His primary prophetic mission was to awaken the nation of Israel to the truth that Yahweh alone is God.

I have broken Elijah’s story into 8 vignettes:

• By the Brook Cherith

• The Widow of Zarephath

• Mt. Carmel Showdown

• Just kill me now

• Replacement

• Ahab and Naboth’s Vineyard – covered in the story of Ahab

• Encounter with King Ahaziah

• Heaven-bound

By the Brook Cherith – 1 Kings 17:1-7

The first time we hear from Elijah he is telling King Ahab that the true God was about to send a famine on the land - there would be no rain in Israel – which was a direct challenge to Baal, the storm and fertility god Ahab worshipped.

After delivering his message, Yahweh instructed Elijah to get out of town and go to the Brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan, “You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there."

Elijah spent some time by the brook. Twice a day the ravens brought him bread and meat, but after a while the brook dried up, so, Yahweh told Elijah to go to the town of Zarephath – which was in Phoenicia on the coast, 13 miles north of Tyre – there a widow would care for him.

The Widow of Zarephath – 1 Kings 17:8-24

Elijah did as Yahweh told him, walking the 100 -/+ miles from Cherith to Zarephath. When he got to the gates of the city, he saw a widow gathering sticks. He asked her for a glass of water and some food.

At first, she declined, telling Elijah that even now she was gathering sticks to make a final meal for herself and her son – after that she expected only death.

Elijah: Listen, I know you’re afraid, but don’t be. Trust me when I ask you to make me a small loaf before you make one for yourself and your son. Yahweh has told me your flour and oil will not run out until it rains again.

The woman did as Elijah instructed and Scripture says that there was food every day for Elijah and the woman and her family.

Sometime later, the widow’s son became ill and died. Understandably devastated, she turned on Elijah, “What did I ever do to you, man of God, that you would come to remind me of my sins and kill my son?"

Elijah: Give me your son.

Elijah took the boy, carried him to the upper room and laid him on the bed. He cried to Yahweh, "O LORD my God, have you brought tragedy upon this widow by causing her son to die?" Then stretched himself out on the boy 3 times.

Yahweh listened to the cry of Elijah and the boy lived. Elijah picked up the child and took him to his mother….

Mt. Carmel Showdown – 1 Kings 18

The time had come…. Yahweh instructed Elijah to return to Israel – Ahab went out to meet him.

Ahab: Are you the one who has created all this trouble for Israel?

Elijah: It’s not me, it’s you, man. You and your family have ruined everything, so here’s what we are going to do. We’re going to go to the top of Mount Carmel. You are going to bring the people and all the prophets of Baal and Asherah with you and we’re are going to end this debate.

Ahab sent out a message and all of Israel came to the top of Mount Carmel. Elijah looked out over the crowd…………………….

Elijah: How long are you going to be stuck between 2 opinions. Either Yahweh is God and you choose to follow Him, or Baal is god and you choose to follow him. You can’t have it both ways!

The people said NOTHING, so Elijah continued.

Elijah: I’m here and all Baal’s prophets are here, so this is what we are going to do. Baal’s guys are going to take an oxen and prepare it for sacrifice. They are going to put wood and the sacrifice on the alter BUT they are NOT going to set it on fire. They will call on the name of their god. I will do the same - only I will call on the name of Yahweh. Whichever God answers with fire from heaven – HE IS GOD!

The people said, “Great Idea.”

The prophets of Baal prepared their altar and began to dance around it calling on Baal, “Oh Baal, answer us!” They did this all morning, but there was no answer. Elijah was over in the corner watching……….