Elijah was a prophet who demonstrated great faith and boldness in serving God. His story is filled with miracles, challenges, and God’s provision. Today, we’ll explore the lessons from Elijah’s life and ministry.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Eli
What Does The Bible Say About Elijah
1 Kings 17:1
“Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”
This verse introduces Elijah as a prophet sent by God to pronounce a drought upon the land as a consequence of the Israelites’ disobedience. It highlights Elijah’s role as a messenger of God, who speaks His word with authority.
Elijah’s declaration also reveals his faith in God’s power, as he confidently states that there will be no rain unless he permits it. It demonstrates how God used Elijah to demonstrate His sovereignty and to draw His people back to Him through this significant event.
1 Kings 17:6
“The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.”
This verse showcases God’s provision for Elijah during the drought. God commanded the ravens to bring food to Elijah, ensuring his sustenance in the midst of a desolate land.
It demonstrates God’s faithfulness and care for His servant, using unconventional means to provide for Elijah’s physical needs. This story encourages believers to trust in God’s provision, even in the most challenging circumstances.
1 Kings 17:16
“The jar of flour was not used up, and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.”
During a severe famine, this verse recounts the miraculous provision of God through Elijah. The widow of Zarephath, who was about to prepare her final meal before she and her son would die, experienced God’s supernatural intervention.
Through Elijah’s prophetic word, God ensured that her jar of flour and jug of oil never ran out. This account displays God’s faithfulness and his ability to provide abundantly, even in times of scarcity and desperation.
1 Kings 18:21
“Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing.”
In this verse, Elijah confronts the Israelites who were wavering between loyalty to the Lord and worshiping Baal. He challenges them to make a choice, urging them not to be indecisive and to wholeheartedly follow the true God.
The Israelites’ silence reflects their double-mindedness and indecisiveness. This verse reminds us of the importance of wholehearted commitment to God, not allowing uncertainties or other idols to distract us from our devotion to Him.
1 Kings 18:36-37
“At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: ‘Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
These verses depict Elijah’s bold and powerful prayer before the showdown between the prophets of Baal and the Lord. He calls upon God, affirming his identity as God’s servant and expressing his desire for the people’s hearts to be turned back towards God.
Elijah’s prayer demonstrates his complete reliance on God’s power and highlights his role as a catalyst for God’s glory to be revealed through the miraculous events that follow. It encourages believers to approach God with boldness and surrender, seeking His intervention in the hearts and lives of those around us.
1 Kings 18:39
“When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!'”
Following the fire of the Lord consuming Elijah’s offering and altars, this verse describes the people’s response. Witnessing the undeniable power and intervention of God, they acknowledge and declare that the Lord alone is God.
This verse emphasizes the transformative impact of God’s miraculous acts, causing people to recognize and submit to His sovereignty. It serves as a reminder that when we experience God’s power and presence, our response should be one of surrendered worship and acknowledgment of His lordship.
1 Kings 19:4
“He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.'”
In this verse, Elijah expresses his despair and desire for death after fleeing from Jezebel’s threats. Overwhelmed by exhaustion and discouragement, he pleads with God to end his life, feeling inadequate and worthless.
Elijah’s vulnerability and honesty reveal the emotional struggles that even faithful servants of God may face. It teaches us that it is essential to bring our struggles and burdens before the Lord and to trust in His provision, comfort, and restoration.
1 Kings 19:11-12
“The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
These verses depict Elijah’s encounter with God on Mount Horeb. They illustrate God’s profound presence and the various manifestations of His power, including a strong wind, earthquake, and fire.
However, it is through a gentle whisper that God chooses to communicate with Elijah. This passage highlights the significance of listening attentively for God’s voice, even in the midst of chaos or distractions, reminding us that God often speaks in unexpected and subtle ways.
1 Kings 19:15-16
“The Lord said to him, ‘Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.'”
God speaks to Elijah, instructing him regarding his future tasks. He commissions Elijah with the responsibility to anoint Hazael as the king of Aram and Jehu as the king of Israel. Additionally, Elijah is tasked with anointing Elisha, who will become his successor as a prophet.
These verses highlight God’s sovereignty in appointing leaders and His guidance in determining the future of His people. It reminds us of the importance of obedience to God’s instructions and trust in His divine plan.
1 Kings 19:19-21
“So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. ‘Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,’ he said, ‘and then I will come with you.’ ‘Go back,’ Elijah replied. ‘What have I done to you?’ So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.”
In these verses, Elijah encounters Elisha and symbolically passes his prophetic mantle onto him by throwing his cloak around him. Elisha willingly follows Elijah after requesting permission to say farewell to his family.
The response of Elisha showcases his immediate commitment and wholehearted devotion to becoming Elijah’s servant. It emphasizes the radical surrender required to embark on a journey of faith and serve God faithfully.
2 Kings 1:10
“Elijah answered the captain, ‘If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!’ Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.”
In this verse, Elijah responds to the captain’s arrogant demand with a prophetic curse. He calls upon God to send down fire from heaven, which immediately consumes the captain and his fifty men.
This verse demonstrates the authority and power that God bestowed upon His prophet. It serves as a reminder of God’s sovereignty, and the consequences that may follow when one opposes God’s chosen messengers.
2 Kings 2:11
“As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.”
These verses describe the dramatic moment in which Elijah is taken up to heaven. As he walks with Elisha, a chariot of fire and horses of fire appear, physically separating them. Elijah is then taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.
This supernatural event affirms Elijah’s unique relationship with God and his role as a powerful prophet. It reveals God’s authority over life and death and the fulfillment of His promised destiny for Elijah.
2 Kings 2:14
“He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. ‘Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.”
After witnessing Elijah’s departure, Elisha picks up his mentor’s cloak and uses it to miraculously part the waters of the Jordan River, allowing him to cross over on dry land.
This verse demonstrates the transfer of spiritual authority and power from Elijah to Elisha, while also highlighting the continuity of God’s presence and faithfulness. It signifies the beginning of Elisha’s ministry and serves as a reminder of the supernatural provision available to those who walk faithfully with God.
2 Kings 2:23
“From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. ‘Get out of here, baldy!’ they said. ‘Get out of here, baldy!’ He turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.”
In this verse, Elisha experiences mocking and disrespect from a group of boys in Bethel. In response, Elisha calls upon the Lord to bring judgment upon them, resulting in two bears coming out of the woods and attacking forty-two of the boys.
This verse demonstrates the consequences of dishonoring and mocking a prophet of the Lord. It serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting God’s chosen servants and the seriousness of our words and actions towards them.
2 Kings 4:2-6
“Elisha replied to her, ‘How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?’ ‘Your servant has nothing there at all,’ she said, ‘except a small jar of olive oil.’ Elisha said, ‘Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.’ She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another one.’ But he replied, ‘There is not a jar left.’ Then the oil stopped flowing.”
In this account, a widow seeks Elisha’s help because she is deeply in debt and has nothing left except a small jar of oil. Elisha instructs her to collect empty jars from her neighbors and miraculously fills them with oil from the small jar until all the vessels are full.
This story emphasizes God’s extraordinary provision when we exercise faith and obedience. It illustrates the principle of God multiplying what little we have when we surrender it to Him, reminding us that our available resources are not limitations to God’s ability to bless and provide.
2 Kings 4:32-35
“When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. He went in, shut the door on the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm. Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.”
In this narrative, Elisha is summoned to the house of a Shunammite woman whose son had died. After shutting himself in the room with the boy, Elisha prays to the Lord, lies on the boy, and breathes life into him, subsequently restoring the boy to life.
This account demonstrates God’s power over life and death, highlighting Elisha as God’s chosen vessel for performing miracles. It affirms the faithfulness of God to answer prayers and reveals His compassion towards those who seek Him in times of difficulty and loss.
2 Kings 5:10
“Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, ‘Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.'”
In this verse, Elisha sends a message to Naaman, a commander of the Syrian army, who seeks healing from his leprosy. Elisha instructs him to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River, assuring him of his restoration and cleansing.
This simple yet significant act of obedience demonstrates the power of God to bring about healing and transformation. It underscores the importance of following God’s instructions, even when they seem unusual or unconventional, and the healing that comes from surrendering to His ways.
2 Kings 5:14
“So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.”
Following Elisha’s instructions, Naaman humbly obeys and dips himself seven times in the Jordan River. As a result, his leprosy is miraculously healed, and his flesh is restored to its original condition.
This verse highlights the significance of faith and obedience in receiving God’s blessings and healing. Naaman’s story shows the transformation that comes when we humble ourselves and wholeheartedly follow God’s instructions, regardless of our initial doubts or reservations.
2 Kings 5:15
“Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.'”
After experiencing God’s miraculous healing, Naaman returns to Elisha to express his newfound faith in the God of Israel. He acknowledges and worships the one true God, offering a gift in gratitude for his restored health.
This verse demonstrates the transformative power of encountering God’s grace and mercy. It illustrates Naaman’s conversion from a foreign military leader to a humble believer who recognizes and accepts the one true God, reminding us of the life-changing impact of encountering God’s power and grace.
2 Kings 9:1-3
“The prophet Elisha summoned a man from the company of the prophets and said to him, ‘Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of olive oil with you, and go to Ramoth Gilead. When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions, and take him into an inner room. Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run; don’t delay!'”
In this passage, Elisha sends one of the prophets to anoint Jehu as the new king of Israel. He provides specific instructions for the anointing to take place in private, followed by a call to swiftly exit the room.
This verse highlights God’s sovereignty in appointing and raising up leaders. It emphasizes the role of prophets as God’s messengers, faithfully carrying out His instructions. It reminds us of the importance of obedience and prompt action when fulfilling God’s purposes and assignments.
2 Kings 9:6
“Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on Jehu’s head and declared, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the Lord’s people Israel.
In fulfillment of God’s command, Jehu receives the anointing from the prophet. The pouring of oil on his head signifies his divine appointment as the king of Israel.
This verse emphasizes the significance of God’s anointing and appointed leadership. It highlights the authority and responsibility that comes with God’s call and serves as a reminder that true leadership is ultimately under God’s divine authority.
2 Kings 9:7
“You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the Lord’s servants shed by Jezebel.”
As part of Jehu’s anointing, the prophet declares God’s command for him to annihilate the house of Ahab and avenge the deaths of the Lord’s servants who were killed under Jezebel’s command.
This verse reveals God’s judgment upon Ahab’s dynasty and the consequences of their idolatry and wickedness. It demonstrates God’s justice and the fulfillment of His promises, showcasing that He holds all people accountable for their actions.