Feeling like Elijah!

Sometimes I feel like Elijah.  It is usually a few days after a I write a great blog post or story and I am not sure what to write about next.  Often this is accompanied by my chronic pain flaring up from work and/or stress or both.  I felt like that this morning.  In fact, I even went back to bed but could not sleep.  Elijah was on my mind. 

Recently a guy I work with, who is a writer, shared a devotional with me about Elijah and the time he cried out to God end his life.  Now do not get alarmed, I do not feel like I want to die, I just feel a little down today and my chronic pain is acting up.  Yet, the devotional talked about crying out to God in our despair.  My friend suggested I write about this since he knew I often write about mental health.  So, I got up and took my laundry downstairs and started a load and started to write.

But Elijah, after crying out to the Lord, went on to do more great things.  He is mentioned throughout the Bible as a great prophet for the Lord.  He was even chosen to appear with Moses at Jesus’ transfiguration.  Below is Elijah’s story as if he is telling it.  All scripture is in italics and usually copied from the New Living Translation.

God’s Calling

Somehow, I always knew God had called me to be His prophet.  While so many were following other gods, my parents raised me that Jehovah was the only true God.  My parents had other children to marry and carry out the family name, but I felt chosen by God to be single to serve Him.  What an honor

No Rain or Dew. 

First, God called me from my family’s hometown of Tishbe in Gilead to go talk to king Ahab.  King Ahab was a wicked king.  He set up the idol Baal for the people of Israel to worship.  You see Ahab had married the daughter of the king of Tyre named Jezebel.  Ahab allowed Jezebel to influence him to follow other gods.  Almost all of Israel followed along and started worshipping the Baal of Tyre.  The Lord was angry at Ahab for leading the people to worship the fertility god of Baal. 

My message was clear.  God told me to tell Ahab there would be no rain or even dew to water all Israel until God saw fit to send it.  I was allowed into king Ahab’s throne room.  Everyone must have wondered what the man dressed so simply of a robe of haircloth and a girdle of leather was doing in the king’s throne room.  I could see it in their faces.  However, the Lord was with me and He gave me the boldness to speak to the king.  “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”

The king just sat there and looked at me.  I could tell he was dumbfounded as to what to say.  Finally, he told me to leave.  He was so sure his god Baal would take care of him.  Yet I could not help to notice a little tremble in his voice when he ordered me out.

Fed by Ravens

After I left, I prayed to God “now what?”.  God told me to “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”  Ravens?  Ravens are going to bring me food?  Those big black noisy birds would probably like to eat me, but the Lord will use them to save me. 

Sure enough after I got to the brook Kerith I set up camp.  The next morning, I woke up and went out of my small tent and there were two ravens.  One had fresh meat and the other had a small loaf of bread.  I cooked up the meat over my fire and reflected on how God provides for His own.  I spent my days there at the brook praying and listening to God teaching me about being a prophet.  Every morning I would wake up to the raven’s call to me.  The same pair would come every morning and night.  I gave them names and called to them, but they did not seem to want to stay long after they dropped the off food.  I did not mind though.  I had the Lord for company.  Sweet followship.

The Widow and Her Son

After a few months, the brook began to dry up.  Finally, there was no water in the brook at all.  I asked the Lord “now what?”.   He said to me “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”  Sidon?  That is not even in Israel.  The widow is a foreigner but if God wants me to go there, Sidon is where I will go.  It took me a few days to get to Zarephath.  I was so thirsty by the time I got there but God had given me the strength to make the trip.  As I entered the village there was a woman in widow’s clothing.  She was gathering sticks.  I went up to her and said, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?”.

 She looked up at me with real sadness in her eyes but turned and started to head to the house.  I called to her and said, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”  I was hungry!  She turned around and I saw tears in her eyes.  She said to me “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”  The Lord then told me what to say to her to relieve her misery, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”

From that day on the Lord was true to His word.  The widow told me I could stay in a room upstairs and I helped with work around the house.  Her son was about ten years old.  He would come to me and we would talk often.  He asked a lot of questions and I did not mind.  His mother kept her distance though, but she beamed when she saw her son spending time with me.

One day the son became sick.  He grew worse as the day wore on.  I felt helpless to do anything for the boy.  Finally, the widow told me her son had died.  She said to me “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?”  I wept and prayed to myself for guidance.  God told me what to do.  I said to the widow “Give me your son”.  I took him up to my room and laid him on my bed.  I cried out to the Lord “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?”  I laid on top of the boy three times and each time I prayed out loud “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.”   The Lord heard my prayers, and the boy came back to life.  He was completely well but, in my joy, I picked him up and carried him back downstairs to his mother.  She cried with joy when she saw her son alive and took him from my arms.  She said to me “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.”

Obadiah

I lived in the widow’s home for three years.  She never ran out of flour and oil.  Her bread with those simple ingredients tasted better than any bread I have ever eaten, and it gave me strength.  At the end of the three years the Lord spoke to me.  “Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon send rain!”  I knew at once I must go so, I went and said my goodbyes to the widow and her son.  They were upset but by that time they knew my stay would be temporary and I need to go do the Lord’s work.

So, I packed my belongings and headed back to Samaria.  One the way I met Obadiah.  Obadiah oversaw the palace, but he was also a follower of God.   When Obadiah saw me, he bowed low to the ground out of respect of me.  He asked, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”  I replied “yes it is.” “Now go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”  “Oh, sir,” Obadiah protested, “what harm have I done to you that you are sending me to my death at the hands of Ahab? For I swear by the Lord your God that the king has searched every nation and kingdom on earth from end to end to find you. And each time he was told, ‘Elijah isn’t here,’ King Ahab forced the king of that nation to swear to the truth of his claim. And now you say, ‘Go and tell your master, “Elijah is here.”’ But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you away to who knows where. When Ahab comes and cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I have been a true servant of the Lord all my life. Has no one told you, my lord, about the time when Jezebel was trying to kill the Lord’s prophets? I hid 100 of them in two caves and supplied them with food and water. And now you say, ‘Go and tell your master, “Elijah is here.”’ Sir, if I do that, Ahab will certainly kill me.”

I instantly reassured Obadiah “I swear by the Lord Almighty, in whose presence I stand, that I will present myself to Ahab this very day.”   Obadiah said now I believe you.  He went to find king Ahab. 

Looking for a Cloud

King Ahab came out to meet me and said “So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?”  I laughed but then I became serious “I have made no trouble for Israel, you and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead. Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.”

Mount Carmel

So, king Ahab sent out a decree for all of Israel to come to Mount Carmel.  A few days later I stood where everyone could see and hear me 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!”  No one said a word. “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets. Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it. Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!”  Everywhere I looked I saw people nodding their heads in agreement.  This will show the who the real God was!  I prayed God would show Himself today. 

The prophets of Baal got to work and set up an alter to their god.  Someone brought two bulls.  I said to the prophets of Baal “You go first, for there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood.”  All morning long the prophets of Baal danced around the alter shout “Oh Baal, hear our cries” but nothing happened.  At noon I taunted them “You’ll have to shout louder, for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!”  I was laughing inside but trying to keep a stern face.  All afternoon they danced and shouted as loud as they could.  They cut themselves and blood ran all over them.  They cried and shouted some more.  Yet nothing happened.  Silence from their god!

Finally, I said to the people “Come over here!” and the people moved over to where I was standing and gathered around me.  There was an alter of the Lord which had been torn down.  I took twelve rocks, one for each tribe of Israel, and rebuilt the alter of the Lord.  Then to the crowd’s amazement I dug a trench around the alter.  I cut up the bull and laid it on the alter.  I said to some men “go fill four large jugs with water and pour it over the alter”.   They did as I told them, and I said do it again.  They did and I said to do it one more time.  They followed my instructions and water soaked the offering and filled the trenches.

It was time for evening sacrifices, so I prayed out loud to the Lord “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”

Immediately fire came down from the sky and burned up the bull and the wood.  The fire even burnt up all the water in the trenches.  Even though I knew what would happen I still was amazed at God’s abilities.  I bowed myself to the ground and worshipped the Lord’s awesomeness.  Then I heard the crowd cry out “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!” 

I shouted to the crowd “Seize all the prophets of Baal. Don’t let a single one escape!”  The crowd seized the prophets and we led them to the valley of Kishon.  There I killed them all.  They will not be swaying the people anymore. 

Rainstorm

Then I said to king Ahab “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!”  Ahab left to go and eat and drink.  I climb to the top of Mount Carmel.  I had a young man with me who asked to be my servant and I agreed.  I said to him “Go and look out toward the sea.”  He came back and said he did not see anything.  I told him to go back seven more times.  Six of those times he came back reporting he did not see anything.  The seventh time the young man came back all excited and said, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.”  “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’”  I shouted to the young man. 

Soon the sky grew dark, and the rain came along with a mighty wind.  Suddenly the Lord gave me strength and I tucked my coat into my belt and ran and caught up to king Ahab’s chariot.  In fact, I ran ahead of the king’s chariot all the way to Jezreel. 

Fear

King Ahab must have told his wife Queen Jezebel what had happened.  Ah hour later a messenger from Jezebel came to me and said, “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”  Suddenly a fear gripped me that was so powerful I took off for Beersheba.  I was so overwhelmed with fear I left my servant in Beersheba and continued out into the wilderness.  Near nightfall I was exhausted and so afraid I cried out to the Lord “I have had enough, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”  I could not go on.  I could not see a way out for me.  I felt Jezebel was going to kill me and there was no stopping her.  I had no hope.

I must have fallen asleep because I woke up when someone touched me.  It was an angel and he said to eat.  I looked up and there on a hot stone was bread and a jar of water.  I ate and drank but I was still so tired I laid back down and fell back to sleep.

Again, the angel woke me and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” I ate and drank and finally felt refreshed.  My hope was restored.  I knew the Lord was with me and would not let harm come to me.  I got up and headed to Mount Sinai.  It took me forty days to get there but the Lord’s strength was with me.  I climb up Mount Sinai and found a cave and went in for the night. 

God spoke to me and asked me “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  I said to Him “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”  The Lord answered me “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,”

Suddenly there was a great wind.  Trees and rocks were thrown from their roots.  Yet I knew God was not there.  Then there was an earthquake.  It shook the ground so much I held onto to a large rock for dear life.  But God was not in the earthquake.  Suddenly there was fire all around me.  I could feel its heat, but it did not come near enough to burn me.  God was not in the fire either.  And then I heard God.  It was a whisper.  It felt God had whispered all the love and joy a man could ever wish for in that whisper.  I cannot explain it. 

In all the times God spoke to me this time both amazed and frightened me the most.  I threw my cloak over my face and went out and stood at the opening of the cave.  Then God asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  Even though I just witnessed what just happened I still felt frightened, so I replied again “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”  Then God gave instructions.  God said “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

So, I headed back the way I came and found Elisha.  He was plowing a field with eleven other men, each with a pair of oxen.  I went up to him and threw my cloak over his shoulders.  This was a sign I wanted Elisa to follow me and be my successor.  Elisa said to me “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will come with you.”   I looked at him and said, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.”  Elisha went back and I waited to see what he would do.  I watched him slaughter his oxen and cook them with the wood of his plows.  Afterwards he gave the meat to the townspeople and they ate it.  I was convinced Elisha would now be my attendant to learn from me and take my place. 

Naboth’s Vineyard

The Lord spoke to me one day and told me king Ahab had claimed Naboth’s vineyard for his own.  The Lord also told me how king Ahab had acquired the vineyard.  I was mad but I knew I had to deliver the Lord’s message without my feelings interfering.  I found king Ahab surveying the vineyard and making plans to turn it into a vegetable garden.  I went up to him and said ‘This is what the Lord says: Wasn’t it enough that you killed Naboth? Must you rob him, too? Because you have done this, dogs will lick your blood at the very place where they licked the blood of Naboth!’”  “So, my enemy, you have found me!”  “Yes,” I answered, “I have come because you have sold yourself to what is evil in the Lord’s sight. So now the Lord says, ‘I will bring disaster on you and consume you. I will destroy every one of your male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel! I am going to destroy your family as I did the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat and the family of Baasha son of Ahijah, for you have made me very angry and have led Israel into sin.’ “And regarding Jezebel, the Lord says, ‘Dogs will eat Jezebel’s body at the plot of land in Jezreel.’ “The members of Ahab’s family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures.” 

Then to my surprise king Ahab torn his clothes and put on mourning clothes made of sack cloth.  He went into deep morning.  The Lord told me to tell king Ahab “Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. It will happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty.”

Ahaziah

The Word of the Lord spoke to me again.  This time it was concerning Ahaziah, king Ahab’s son who took his father’s throne after king Ahab died.  Ahaziah had fallen from the second floor of his home.  He was injured and had sent a messenger to consult with Baal-Zebub a god to see if Ahaziah would recover.  The Lord sent me to intercept the messenger with the message Ahaziah would die.  Ahaziah must not have liked what the messenger said when he returned with God’s message because he sent fifty soldiers to tell me to come down from the top of the hill I was on.   The captain of the guard said, “Man of God, the king has commanded you to come down with us.”  I replied, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!”  And all at once fire fell from heaven and destroyed the men.  So Ahaziah sent another fifty men and the same thing happened so Ahaziah sent another fifty men but this time the captain pleaded with me for their lives, so an angel of the Lord said to go with them, so I did.  I went to Ahaziah and said to him “This is what the Lord says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.”  And Ahaziah died that very night.

Handing over to Elisha

The Lord spoke to me and told me I would be taken up to Heaven rather than die and Elisha would take my place.  I am amazed at how much God has done through me to demonstrate how much He loves Israel even though they follow their kings and worship other gods.  Elisha is so much different than me, but I am sure he will be a great prophet and continue the work I have started. 

Elisha and I were on our way to Gilgal.  I was telling him I would be taken up to Heaven that day.  I said to him “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Bethel.”  But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!”  So, we traveled along to Bethel then on to Jericho and finally we went to the Jordan river.  I knew the Lord was going to take me on the other side, so I rolled up my cloak and struck the water of the river.  Just like God did for the Israelites back in Moses’ day the river parted, and we walked over on dry land. 

When we got to the other side, I asked Elisha “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.”  And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”  “You have asked a difficult thing,” I replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”  As I finished saying this, I saw a chariot of fire, pulled by horses made of fire come between me and Elisha.  I knew this was my ride to Heaven.  I took of my cloak and threw it on the ground as I climb aboard the chariot.  Elisha would know what to do.  Of that I have no doubt!

Discussion

All through Elijah’s life he was close to God.  I think of the time he spent at the brook being fed by ravens.  How amazing that must have felt.  Oh, to have such sweet fellowship.  Yet I know the sweet fellowship could be mine if only I could trust God more.  Yet, like Elijah I have days where I still feel so low and beat myself up for things I said or done.  God will forgive me I know.  I must forgive myself and remember I am a child of God and He loves me so much.  Can you relate to any of Elijah’s story?

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