Elijah
The prophet Elijah fulfilled a hard mission of bearing witness for God at a time when King Ahab and the Israelites had left the Lord and worshiped pagan gods. The evil king and his wife Jezebel sought to destroy the prophet. But God did not allow His servant to die at the hands of those who wanted his life, nor did He allow him to pass away from his ministry in discouragement or shame. As Elijah had honored God, so the Lord honored him, not permitting him to be laid in the tomb. Instead, the Lord took him directly by a chariot of fire into the glories and peace of heaven.
The Miracles
The Lord did mighty miracles in the life of His faithful prophet:
1) The prophet caused the rain to cease for three and a half years (1 Kings 17:1). Baal was worshiped as the god of life and blessing. And he was also the great storm god. It was believed that Baal provided the earth with rain and gave to the land its nourishment. Now Israel was to learn that Baal could not grant these blessings.
2) The prophet was fed by ravens (1 Kings 17:4). The Lord showed the whole nation of Israel that He was the true God and that He would take care of His own in the most unusual ways.
3) The miracle of the bin of flour and the jar of oil (1 Kings 17:8-16). God sent Elijah to a widow of Zarephath to take care of him. But she and her son had one meal left to eat and then die. The prophet said to her not to fear but to make a small cake for him first, then afterward another to her and her son. And he added, “For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’” So she did according to the word of Elijah. And the Lord rewarded her faith and she and her household ate for many days.
4) Resurrection of the widow’s son (1 Kings 17:17:24). The Widow’s son got sick and died. So, she cried and asked Elijah for help and he prayed to the Lord then stretched himself out on the child three times, and said “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” Then the Lord heard the prayer of Elijah; and the soul of the child was revived from death.
5) Calling of fire from heaven on the alter (1 Kings 18: 38-40). The people of Israel were worshiping Baal. So, Elijah came to all the people, and said, let the prophets of Baal make a sacrifice to their god and I will make a sacrifice to the Lord and the God who answers by fire, He is the true God. So the people prayed to Baal but nothing happened. But Elijah prayed, the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God!”
6) Causing the sky to rain (1 Kings 18:41-45). After the severe drought, the prophet Elijah prayed seven times and the Lord answered his prayer and the sky became black with clouds, and there was a heavy rain.
7) Prophecy that Ahab’s sons would be destroyed: “I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin” (1 Kings 21:22).
8) Prophecy that Jezebel would be eaten by dogs: “And concerning Jezebel the Lord also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel’” (1 Kings 21:23).
9) Prophecy that Ahaziah would die of his illness: “Now therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die'” (2 Kings 1:4).
10) Calling fire from heaven upon the first 50 soldiers: “So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty” (2 Kings 1:10).
11) Calling fire from heaven upon the second 50 soldiers: “So Elijah answered and said to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty” (2 Kings 1:12).
12) Parting of the Jordan: “Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground” (2 Kings 2:8).
13) Prophecy that Elisha would have a double portion of his spirit: “So he (Elijah) said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so” (2 Kings 2:10).
14) Being caught up to heaven in a whirlwind: “Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
