Hall of Faith: Elijah, Walked with God

 

Elijah is one of only two people mentioned in the Bible as being “taken into heaven”.

Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal

However, time and again he proved his faith to God and took a stand for righteousness.

The name Elijah means my God is Yahweh.

The story of Elijah is found in 1 & 2 Kings.

In 1 Kings 17:1, we are introduced to Elijah. “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”

Elijah called for fire to come down from heaven..and God sent it

Wikipedia described the word Tishbite as meaning stranger. The area of Tishbe is located in upper Galilee and some historians believe it may be among the mountains of Gilead, south of the Sea of Galilee.

Elijah challenges King Ahab and the gods of Baal. When we first meet Elijah, he tells Ahab that it will not rain for three more years as punishment for his {Ahab} and his wife {Queen Jezebel} wickedness. {1 Kings 17}

After this announcement, he goes to the brook of Cherith, where God feeds him through the ravens. He learns to obey God during this time and is completely dependent on God. He stays until God tells him to leave. {1 Kings 17:3-7}

Elijah is fed by the ravens

The the Lord tells him to go to Zarephath. He meets a widow whom he ask to prepare him a cake. The Lord provides enough food each day for Elijah, the widow and her son. But the son dies. Elijah “stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.” {1 Kings 17:8-24}

After a 3 1/2 year draught,God tells Elijah to return to Ahab. Elijah tells the king to bring his false prophets to Mt. Carmel. He has the men worship Baal and call upon Baal to rain down fire. The false prophets “and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.” {1 Kings 18:29}

Elijah prayed to raise the dead boy

“And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name…Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again…Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice…And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.” {1 Kings 18:36-39}

Elijah had the false prophets rounded up and killed.

Elijah then predicted that rain was coming. {1 King 18:40-46}

Elijah prayed for rain

When Ahab returned home and told his wife, Queen Jezebel, about the false prophets of Baal she was furious. She sent a message to Elijah that she would kill him the next day.

He went into the wilderness and sought God. “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” {1 Kings 19:4}

But God had him sleep and rest and then provided food and water for him. After Elijah was rested and had an intimate conversation with the Lord, God sent him away, where he found safety and survived in the wilderness for a time. He then came upon Elisha, who would eventually take his place. {1 Kings 19:19}

Elijah proclaimed the death of King Ahab and his wicked deeds. He also foretold of

Elijah foretold of Ahab and Jezebel’s demise

Jezebel’s demise. {1 Kings 21-22}.

2 Kings 2:1 says, “And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind.” Elisha then took up the mantle of Elijah and asked for a double portion of the spirit of God to be on his life as if had been on Elijah’s.

“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” {2 Kings 2:11}

Elijah and Enoch {Genesis 5:22-24} are the only two individuals listed in the Bible as taken into heaven without dying. That alone shows his faith and why he belongs in the Hall of Faith.

 

What can we learn from Elijah?

Elijah was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire as Elisha witnessed

  1. Elijah obeyed God
  2. Elijah talked with God
  3. Elijah humbled himself before God
  4. Elijah spoke on behalf of God
  5. Elijah took a stand for the living God
  6. Elijah was not afraid of false prophets or rulers
  7. Elijah trusted God
  8. Elijah was able to perform miracles
  9. Elijah was ministered to by God
  10. Elijah was taken into heaven

 

We can walk with God, the same as Elijah #Hallof Faith Click To Tweet

Elijah stopped wickedness, stood up for righteousness, raised the dead, lived in the wilderness and was taken into heaven. His faith was strong and he walked hand in hand with God. Elijah is considered to be one of the boldest prophets.

Do you walk hand in hand with God?

 

Pictures from FreeBibleImages.org

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