[1KG:17:1]. [2KG:4:8], [2KG:4:13], [2KG:4:35], [2KG:4:42-44]. [1KG:18:12-18]. [2KG:3:16-17]. [1KG:19:9-14], [1KG:19:18-21]. [2KG:2:21].
Lesson 318 - Junior
Memory Verse
"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace" (Psalm 37:37).
Notes
Elijah's Call
Elijah was called to become a prophet of God when the hearts of the people of Israel were turned far from the God of their fathers. Their king, Ahab, had married a heathen woman; and this wicked Jezebel had persuaded him to worship heathen gods. The people naturally had followed their leader, and the hearts of all Israel had become corrupt. We are told nothing about Elijah's home life and family. Much of his early life was spent alone in the wilderness. He was a stern, brave man, fearing God only. Elijah had a difficult duty to perform, and he was fitted for the task. It was Elijah's life's work to prove to Israel that there was but one God, the God who had made them a nation when He gave Moses the Law on Mount Sinai. His task would not be easy, because people do not like to be told about their sins nor warned of judgment. They would not want to listen to him. He would have to go before the king and the people to tell them that they were all wrong in their worship and their morals; and no one was going to love him for it. Elijah seldom went into the cities. When he did, it was to give some message of judgment from God. Then he would quickly disappear into the wilderness again. Some of the people believed that the Spirit of God carried him from place to place [1KG:18:12]), and hid him when his enemies tried to destroy him.Judgments
The acts of Elijah were big and colourful. He could stand before the people and say confidently: "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" [1KG:17:1]). This was judgment upon Israel for backsliding, and it was proof to the people when it came to pass that there was a God in Israel who answered prayer. For three years and six months the people suffered for lack of water. And they did not love Elijah for his part in this judgment [1KG:18:17]). After the fire had come down and consumed the sacrifice Elijah had offered on Mount Carmel, he destroyed 450 prophets of Baal. Elijah had pleased God in carrying out God's commands, but the queen vowed to get even by making him as the dead prophets before the day closed. Elijah hid in order to save his life. Another time Elijah called down fire from Heaven, which destroyed two different bands of fifty soldiers who had come to capture him. God gave Elijah this power for the work of purging idolatrous Israel.The Still, Small Voice
One day God showed Elijah that his religion for Israel was not all fire and judgment. Elijah was living alone in a cave, hiding from the wicked queen. He felt that his work was accomplishing little. The people were still worshiping idols in spite of all his efforts to turn them back to God. He felt that he was the only person in all Israel who loved the Lord. God told Elijah to go out and stand upon the mount and he would pass by. A great storm came up, and the wind was so strong that rocks were broken by the force of it. But the Lord was not in the wind. Next there was an earthquake. Elijah may have thought of the great earthquake that shook Mount Sinai when God gave Moses the Law. But this time God was not in the earthquake, nor in the fire that followed. Then Elijah heard a still, small voice, a voice of love, of mercy, of tenderness. This was the voice of God speaking to encourage the faithful prophet. Though Elijah could not see the work of God, it was quietly going on. There were 7,000 people in Israel who had not bowed their knee to Baal, nor kissed his image.Elijah's Successor
The work that Elijah began was established by his successor, Elisha. How grateful the people of Israel should have been for the self-sacrificing Elijah who was willing to come up to the help of the Lord, though it meant a rough and unappreciated life for him! There are many tasks that God has for man to do, and there has to be someone who is willing to fight the difficult battles in order that the truth of the Word of God may be laid in the hearts of the people. Before Elijah finished his work, God sent him to anoint Elisha to be the prophet to follow him. Elisha was an entirely different man. He lived with his family the life of a contented and prosperous farmer. But from the day that Elijah passed by and threw his mantle upon him, meaning that he wanted Elisha to be his "son" or successor, Elisha began preparation to follow the will of God. It was no doubt hard for Elisha to leave his family and his work, but he had felt the call from Heaven, and the Lord's business became more important to him. For some years he walked with Elijah and waited upon him, meanwhile learning from that mighty man of God what would be of value to him when it came his time to carry on the great work that Elijah had begun. Elisha asked for a double portion of the Spirit that was upon Elijah. Because of his faithfulness, this petition was granted. According to the miracles listed in the Scriptures, Elisha performed twice as many miracles as Elijah did.Works of Elijah and Elisha Compared
The work of Elisha was to be very much different from that of Elijah. Elijah had spent much of his time alone in the wilderness, hiding away from the people and the government, appearing only occasionally to announce the words of God. Elisha lived in the cities with other people [2KG:4:8]), and he was well known to the king and evidently in his favour [2KG:4:13]). Whereas most of Elijah's activities were tremendous acts of judgement, Elisha went about doing deeds of kindness and mercy -" things for which people would love him. Elijah's first work had been to predict famine; Elisha's was to heal the poison waters. Elisha's miracles have been compared with those of Christ when He walked among men, healing the sick, relieving the weary, multiplying food to the hungry and lending a helping hand in many ways.Time For Mercy
There are times for judgment -" and God has used some of His prophets to proclaim them -" but Jesus said when He was on earth: "He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised" [LUK:4:18]). On one occasion when Jesus had been insulted by some Samaritans, His disciples asked: "Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias (Elijah) did?" [LUK:9:54]). Jesus rebuked them by saying: "The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them" [LUK:9:56]). The time for judgment was not yet. Most of Elisha's ministry was marked by deeds of benevolence: increasing the widow's oil so she would have something for herself and her sons to live on [2KG:4:1-7]); healing the poisoned water at Jericho [2KG:2:21]); providing food for the school of the prophets during a drought [2KG:4:42-44]); bringing back a widow's son to life [2KG:4:35]); providing water for the thirsty armies of Israel and Judah [2KG:3:16-17]). One time, after capturing a whole army of Syria, he gave them food and water, and then sent them back home. Even after he was dead there was such power in his bones that the body of a dead soldier thrown in upon him came back to life (II King 13:21). Such was the life of these two great men of God, each with his own work to do in his own way, but both fulfilling the will of God in behalf of the nation of Israel.