In the Old Testament, the prophet Elijah has more than one superhero story. We find Elijah’s name more than 65 times in the Old Testament. He was a man sold out to God. He knew his power came from God and he always gave God the glory for everything.
Elijah comes on the scene in I Kings chapter 17. Israel was in a horrible state of affairs because corrupt kings had ruled it. There was a famine brought on by God and many were suffering. Before God allowed Elijah to be used in Israel, he told him to hide by the brook Cherith. There God would provide water and the ravens would feed him. Only someone who trusted God would believe he could be sustained by birds feeding him and a stream during a drought.
I Kings 17:3-4 “Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.”
When the river dries up God sends him to a widow’s house who will provide him with food and water. This widow tells him she only has enough for one meal for her and her son and then they will die. Elijah tells her to feed him first and then make some for herself. This woman must have sensed Elijah was God’s man, she obeyed, and God fed them for many days as the meal and oil didn’t run dry. Their story doesn’t end there. Later her son dies, and Elijah brings him back to life!
I Kings 17:12-13 “And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.”
The next great thing this superhero did was confront a king who blames him for all the problems of Israel. Elijah knew Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel could have him killed when he was in their presence, but he trusted God and obeyed. Israel was in a state of idolatry, many were worshiping Baal. Elijah presents a challenge to Ahab to prove who is the true God. He instructs the prophets of Baal to present a sacrifice to their god and he will present one to his and see which god responds to consume the sacrifice. The prophets of Baal took the bullock they were given and put it upon the altar. They called on their god from morning until evening and nothing happened. They cried loudly to their god and cut themselves until the blood gushed and still nothing. Elijah begins to taunt them and mock them. Finally, Elijah prepares to call on God. He puts the sacrifice on the altar and saturates the wood with water, so much water that it filled a trench around it. When God would consume the offering there would be no mistake it was from Him.
I Kings 18:33-39 “And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 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 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 they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.”
Over and over God shows himself strong through Elijah. However, he also has him prepare his successor, Elisha. God will never leave His people without a leader. When Elijah had completed all that God had for him, he did not die but was taken in a chariot of fire into Heaven.
II Kings 2:11-13 “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. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;”
God is still using those who will not bow to the gods of this world. Those who are committed to winning others to Him, those who will obey at any cost, even the threat of death. Is your first priority to share Christ, to honor Him in all you do? God wants to use you and me to do remarkable things for Him. He is still able and desires men and women who will be His spiritual heroes today.
