Learning From Their Life: Elijah
By: Kristen L. McNulty
Reprint rights available on request. Email the author at kristenmcnulty@hotmail.com.
A few weeks ago we started a new series as part of our devotionals where we shine the spotlight on someone in the BIble and try to learn from their lives. Learn from both the struggles they faced and the triumphs they experienced. Learn from what to do and in other cases, what not to do. This week we are going to dive into the life of Elijah, a hero of the faith and prophet during Old Testament times.
Elijah came onto the scene about a hundred years after the reign of King David, who tried to lead the nation of Israel to worship and serve God alone. Many of the kings who came after David's time were corrupt and sinful and King Ahab was no exception. In fact, we're told in the book of 1 Kings that Ahab constructed a wooden idol and "did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him." (1 Kings 16:33) To warn King Ahab and the nation about their evil ways and the judgement for their sin, God sent Elijah as a prophet and a messenger.
Elijah's task was not an easy one. No one likes to be the bearer of bad news, but to approach the most powerful man in the land and tell him what he was doing was evil is bound to not only prompt the king's anger but his wrath as well. Which is exactly what happens to Elijah. King Ahab was furious with Elijah and this wasn't merely a passive dislike of someone, but an intense hatred to the point that Elijah had to run for his life and Ahab had his men search every nation and kingdom on earth to try and find Elijah (1 Kings 18:10). But as Elijah experienced, the power of an earthly king pales in comparison to the power of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. From Elijah's life we can see that while man might seek to harm us, we need to continue to look to the Lord for our protection and trust in Him. We can speak boldly knowing that no matter what happens, God is for us and He has the ability to protect us. There is no reason to fear what man can do to us when we follow where God leads us. God in His sovereignty has the final say about what happens to us and no enemy we can make along the way can supersede God's plan for our lives. Does this mean that we will never experience a consequence for speaking out for our faith? No. But what it does mean is we will never experience anything unless God allows it and whatever He allows, He will equip us to endure.
Elijah followed God's leading & experienced His provision
So Elijah followed God's leading, going where He said to go and saying what He said to say.
Along the way, not only did Elijah experience God's protection, but also His provision. When God allowed a severe drought in the nation of Israel, withholding rain for three and a half years, God didn't forget about Elijah or allow him to go hungry or without water. In fact, God literally sent ravens to feed Elijah. Can you imagine? God said to Elijah in 1 Kings 17:4,
"Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food." 1 Kings 17:4
Elijah's experiences show us that wherever God calls us, He meets us in that place and provides for us. Jesus echoed this truth in Matthew 6:31-34 when he said:
"So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:31-34
When we seek the Kingdom of God above all else, God will meet us in that place with exactly what we need in that moment. Elijah depended on God and God came through and He will do the same in my life and in yours.
Elijah had a rich prayer life
Elijah's life shows us the picture of someone who was protected and provided for, but also the picture of someone who had a very rich prayer life. As we read through the account of Elijah's life in 1 Kings we can clearly see Elijah was a man of prayer and powerful prayers at that. Elijah didn't approach God with only minor asks, but he prayed some pretty big prayers and saw as those faith-filled prayers were answered in some rather mighty ways. Elijah's prayers brought a drought, saw a young boy returned from death back to life and even brought down fire from heaven. And I know what you're thinking, because I've thought it too: isn't that just for Elijah? I mean he was a prophet, so my prayer life isn't expected to be like his. Not so, according to God's own word. In the New Testament, Elijah's faith and his prayer life is held up to us as an example to follow. Let's look at James 5:13-18 where it reads:
"Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops." James 5:13-18
We can see in these verses that faith-filled prayers aren't exclusive to Elijah, but are supposed to be part of your life and mine.
Is someone in your life sick? Pray for their healing.
Is there evil occuring in your community? Pray for the power of God to overcome it.
Does your church need a financial miracle to keep its doors open? Call together your community of faith and stay on your knees together.
Does someone in your life need to know Jesus? Start praying and don't stop until they come to saving faith in Christ.
Elijah couldn't have pictured what God would do
How and when God answers prayer is His choice and His job to do. Ours is to not hold back from asking and not allow anything to stop us from praying. As a young man if Elijah would have been told what God would all do in his life he likely would have not believed it, but God used him in truly incredible ways at a pivotal time in Israel's history. We too could be used in ways we can't even comprehend if we are willing to go where God calls us, speak when He gives us the words to say and not stop praying even one step of the way.
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