Elijah The Tishbite - Introduction

Elijah The Tishbite
1 Kings 17-21, 2 Kings 1-2

A remarkable event in the ministry of Jesus was His transfiguration.... Transfigured before Peter, James and John - Mt 17:1-2 “And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” Joined by Moses and Elijah, then exalted by the Father - Mt 17:3-8 “And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.” Followed by questions related to Elijah - Mt 17:9-13 “And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead." And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" He answered, "Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.”

We might also ask questions about Elijah.... Why did he appear with Moses and Jesus? Of all the prophets of the OT who could have appeared, why him? Elijah was certainly a remarkable individual.... He was “the grandest and the most romantic character that Israel ever produced.” - Smith. “mightiest of all the prophets” - Keil & Delitzsch. “the most eminent of the prophets” - Wesley. Yet he is described as “a man with a nature like ours” - Ja 5:17 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.” “of the same constitution, a human being just as ourselves are.” - Clarke. “a mere man, subject to the same weaknesses and infirmities as other men.” – Barnes. -- He appears to have suffered from discouragement and depression.

How did such a man become the greatest of prophets? What lessons might he offer us in our service to God? Let’s take a closer look, beginning with Elijah the man. His name Elijah means “Yahweh is my God.” - Barnes. In the NT, some translations render his name as “Elias” - Mt 17:3 (KJV) Of his origin; “This prophet is introduced as abruptly as Melchisedek--his birth, parents, and call to the prophetic office being alike, unrecorded.” - JFB. He is called “the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead” - 1 Kin 17:1 “Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."’ His origin is uncertain. Some think “Tishbeh” was a city in Galilee; others, in Gilead. Some have even supposed that he was an Ishmaelite, not an Israelite, sent to rebuke and shame the apostate Israel - JFB. Some have even opined that he was an angel of God, though this can be countered by James’ statement (Ja 5:17) – Clarke.
As to his appearance he is described, “A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.” - 2 Kin 1:7-8; see John, Mt 3:4. “That is, he wore a rough garment, either made of camels’ hair, as his successor John Baptist’s was, or he wore a skin dressed with the hair on. Some think that the meaning is, he had very long hair and a long beard. The ancient prophets all wore rough garments, or upper coats made of the skins of beasts: They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, says the apostle, He 11:37.” - Clarke. “His costume was that of a thorough ascetic. Generally the Jews wore girdles of linen or cotton stuff, soft and comfortable. Under the girdle they wore one or two long linen gowns or shirts, and over these they had sometimes a large shawl. Elijah had only his leather girdle and his sheepskin cape or ‘mantle.’” – Barnes.

Even in his day, Elijah would have been considered “strange”. Yet we can’t help but be impressed by this remarkable man as we consider Elijah and his ministry. Starting with the judgment of drought; the proclamation to Ahab - 1 Kin 17:1 “Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."’ Note the wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel - 1 Kin 16:29-33 “In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.”

Returning to the prophecy sworn by “the Lord God of Israel...before whom I stand” - 1 Kin 17:1 we continue looking into his ministry. By his word there will be neither dew nor rain for three years. Then there is God’s care of Elijah by the Brook Cherith - 1 Kin 17:2-7 “And the word of the LORD came to him, "Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." So he went and did according to the word of the LORD. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.”
At the widow of Zarephath - 1 Kin 17:8-24:
1) The miracle of the bin of flour and jar of oil
2) The raising of the widow’s son
His reappearance before Ahab:
1) Commanded by the Lord -1 Kin 18:1-2
2) Arranged by Obadiah - 1 Kin 18:3-16
He was falsely accused of being a “troubler of Israel” - 1 Kin 18:17-18.

Then there was the Challenge on Mount Carmel, challenging Israel and her false prophets - 1 Kin 18:19-20 “Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.” The 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. Supported by Jezebel, Ahab’s wife. The challenge to Israel - 1 Kin 18:21 “How long will you falter between two opinions?” “If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” Then the test between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The test explained - 1 Kin 18:22-24 “Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken."’ The prophets of Baal go first, and fail - 1 Kin 18:25-29 “Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it." And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.” Elijah’s remarkable victory - 1 Kin 18:30-39 “Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name," and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." And he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time. And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God." Then the prophets of Baal were executed at the Brook Kishon - 1 Kin 18:40 “And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape." And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.” The drought comes to an end as Elijah prays - 1 Kin 18:41-46 “And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain." So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." And he went up and looked and said, "There is nothing." And he said, "Go again," seven times. And at the seventh time he said, "Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.'" And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.”

It is hard to find a place in this lesson and Elijah's life to find a short break. However we will do so at this point and continue in the next part starting with the flight for his life. This was another challenge Elijah faced as his life was threatened by Jezebel. Then we will look at some comparisons and application of Elijah's life to our own.