SERIES M --- PROPHESIES AND MIRACLES --- LESSON 3

ELIJAH FLEES

ELIJAH AND THE SOFT WHISPER

From 1 Kings 19

When King Ahab told his wife Jezebel that Elijah had humiliated the prophets of Baal and then executed them, she sent a message to Elijah. [I vow by my gods that I will execute you by this time tomorrow,] she declared. When he received this message, Elijah was afraid and fled to save his life. First, he went to Beersheba, a city of Judah, where he left his servant. Then he went a day’s journey into the wilderness and there he sat under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. [I have had enough,] he said. [O Adonai, take my life now, for I am no better than my fathers.] Then he lay down to sleep beneath the broom tree. While he was sleeping, an Angel touched him. [Arise and eat,] the Angel said. When Elijah looked, he saw by his head some bread baking on hot stones and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again, expecting to die. Again, the Angel touched Elijah. [Arise! Eat more, for you have a long journey before you and you need strength for it.] Elijah arose and ate and drank again. He gained enough strength from that meal to travel forty days and nights all the way to Horeb, the mountain of YHVH and there he lived in a cave. Then Adonai spoke to him and said, [Why are you here, Elijah?] [I have given everything to serve You,] Elijah answered; [but the people of Israel have turned from You, broken their covenant with You, torn down Your altars and murdered Your prophets. I am the only prophet left and they are trying to kill me, too.] [Go out of your cave and stand on the mountain before Me,] Adonai Commanded. Elijah obeyed and as he stood there, Adonai passed by. A great wind swept across the mountain, so fierce that it tore rocks from the mountainside, but Adonai was not in the wind. A mighty earthquake followed the wind, but Adonai was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, fire swept down, but Adonai was not in the fire. Then came the sound of a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he recognized Adonai’s voice. He wrapped his face in his cloak and stood at the entrance to the cave. [Why are you here, Elijah?] Adonai asked. [I have given everything to serve You, but the people of Israel have turned from You, broken their covenant with You, torn down Your altars and murdered Your prophets. I am the only prophet left and they are trying to kill me too,] replied Elijah. [Stop feeling sorry for yourself, for I have great work for you to do,] Adonai told him. [As you go home, go by the Wilderness Road that leads to Damascus. Anoint Hazael to be the next king of Syria. Then anoint Jehu to be the next king of Israel. After that, anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah to be the next great prophet after you. Jehu will execute those who escape from Hazael and Elisha will execute those who escape from Jehu. You should know also that there are still seven thousand people in Israel who have never bowed down before Baal to worship him.] Elijah headed for home. Along the way he found Elisha and other ploughmen ploughing with twelve yokes of oxen. Elijah went to Elisha, who was behind the twelfth yoke of oxen, threw his cloak over his shoulders and walked away. This was an obvious sign that Elijah was appointing Elisha to be YHVH’s prophet after him. Elisha ran after Elijah. [Let me go home and say good-bye to my father and mother,] he said. [Then I will go with you to serve you.] [Go on, but remember what I have done to you,] said Elijah. Elisha went back to his oxen, slaughtered the animals and cooked the meat over a fire he made with the yokes and the plough. He made a feast for his neighbours. After that, he went with Elijah to serve him.

COMMENTARY

ELIJAH AND HIS TRAVELS

Old Testament prophets were people YHVH selected to act as His messengers. Some were given one task and never called again. Others like Elijah served their whole lifetimes as spokesmen for YHVH. Elijah worked in the northern kingdom during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel. His task was difficult, often causing him great hunger and fatigue. It also required much inner strength and the courage to meet fierce opposition. Elijah’s teaching usually dealt critically with the political, social and economic concerns of Israel. This was true of most other prophets as well. Because of that, they often earned the hatred of kings, the rich and the powerful. Prophets spoke to the common people as well as to the powerful. They taught the moral laws that should direct behaviour and their messages often included a prediction of future events that would result from a person’s actions. Fearless and outspoken, the prophets are remembered as people of moral vision, wisdom and courage.

Zarephath; -- a town on the Phoenician coast, between Sidon and Tyre. In Zarephath, Elijah stayed with a poor widow and her son. When they gave him the last of their food, Elijah miraculously refilled the flour and oil jars. They never again ran empty. Later, when the son died, Elijah’s prayers returned him to life.

Mount Carmel; -- one of the hills of the Carmel Mountain range, where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest. When Baal failed to respond to their pleas, he called on YHVH to ignite the offering. A flash of fire consumed the altar as well as the sacrificial bull. Elijah then executed the false prophets. Since the contest had proven Baal to be a false god, Elijah prayed for YHVH to return rain to the parched land.

Beersheba; -- a town in the desert section of Judah often referred to as the southernmost edge of the country. Elijah fled to this sparsely populated region to hide from Jezebel. The queen threatened to kill him for murdering the Baal prophets she had brought from Phoenicia. Frightened and exhausted, Elijah lay down to die, but an angel awoke him, gave him food and sent him to Mount Horeb.

Mount Horeb; -- a mountain in the Sinai Desert, where Elijah found shelter and rest in a secluded cave. Here YHVH spoke to Elijah, comforting him and giving him instructions to anoint the next kings of Syria and Israel, and to appoint Elisha as the next prophet.

Jezreel; -- city where Ahab and Jezebel lived. Jezebel plotted to kill Naboth, a man who owned a vineyard next to the palace. When Ahab greedily took possession of the vineyard, Elijah appeared to deliver a curse from YHVH. The king’s male descendants would die early and dogs would lick the king’s blood at his death. These were among the worst Israelite curses.

Samaria; -- Ahaziah, son of Ahab, fell through a hole in the upper floor of his Samarian palace. He sent servants to the god Beal-zebub, to inquire about his health. Elijah stopped the messengers and predicted that the evil king would die soon.

Jordan River; -- Elijah parted the waters to cross with Elisha. On the eastern side of the river, a sudden whirlwind lifted Elijah from the ground, and he disappeared.