Introduction
James 5:17-18 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
Notice that James does not refer to Elijah as a man with unsurpassed nature. Elijah does not set an impossible standard of faith that we can only aspire to. Instead, he writes that Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. Elijah lived a life characterized by heroism and humility. He achieved this through living a life characterized by prayer and faith placed in God.
Question
Do you ever feel as if you are living on just enough while some wicked person you know is living their best life? You might find yourself wondering, why am I doing the best I can, trusting in God while my neighbor is living life as an utter pagan and seems to be getting rewarded for their wickedness.
Let’s consider Elijah and Ahab. Here Elijah is a man and prophet of guide. Following his message to Ahab that rain will cease in the land of Israel, he immediately is placed on Israel’s most wanted list and goes into hiding. At the Brook Chereth, he is served by ravens who bring him bread and meat daily. Because God is the source of the miraculous intervention, I can imagine that the meat was of the highest quality. Perhaps, the ravens were bringing strips of filet every morning and evening. Hopefully, the bread was of the artisan, gourmet variety. Ordinarily though, Raven’s aren’t known as gourmands and the food they dine on isn’t the freshest.
After a while, the brook dried up and Elijah was directed to Zerephath. The situation here was a little better; because, at least there was companionship for Elijah. Ravens aren’t known for their discerning food taste, and they are worse conversationalists. When Elijah arrives though, the food situation remains a miracle. Now, he, the widow, and her son are subsisting on a little flour and oil that never seems to run out. All the while, Ahab and Jezebel are living their best life in a place surrounded by a lovely murdered that Naboth said was to die for.
But, for Ahab and Jezebel this is as good as it was ever going to get for them. And, for unbelievers, this existence here on earth is their heaven. There is no expectation for unbelievers to live by faith and trust in God for his provision. Life for them is about maximizing pleasure and personal gain. In this lifetime, it may be hard for us to see this as fair. But as believers, God has set a higher standard for us because he loves us and wants what is best for us.
Enter Elijah
So, who is Elijah? Starting with his name, Elijah means YHWH is my God. Further, he is identified as being from the settlers of Tishbe in Gilead. We do not know anything of Tishbe, but we know that those residing in Gilead lived a rugged pioneer existence. Gilead literally means heap of stones and it is hill country. Elijah is a humble man of humble origin who bursts into the scene of Ahab’s royal court to deliver an astounding message. “It will not rain again until I say so.”
What can we learn from this?
Remember that God looks at our hearts – not our background, appearance, and education. Scripture is full of humble people from humble origins being called to acts of heroism that ultimately glorify God. Perhaps, this is because the humble simply because they are humble are more easily molded, more teachable, and more willing to be servants of God instead of the mighty who are often prone to pursuing their own agendas.
Brook Cherith
As we mentioned previously, Elijah immediately becomes public enemy number 1, and the Lord directs him to go into hiding at the Brook Cherith. In this narrative, all of the names and locations have significance and meaning. Cherith means to cut off or cut down. God was utilizing this time of isolation to cut down Elijah the Tishbite and develop Elijah the Prophet.
Application
What do we see here that is applicable to our own lives? In our lives, we need to find time for solitude and education. There are many examples across the Old and New Testaments of God utilizing aloneness as an opportunity to not only draw his servants closer to him but also educate them in the faith. We must cultivate both our relationship with God and our understanding of God, and a key element in this process is solitude spent wisely.
However, this existence cannot go on forever. In high school, I had quite a few classes with an individual who was an avid reader. Any time I saw this person, they were reading something of significance. Yet, this person also was extremely quiet. They had tremendous knowledge and insight but never shared the lessons they had acquired. As Christians we are called by God to read and study his word, we are called to moments of isolation, but this is all meaningless if we never share what he has given us. Does anyone remember the song, This Little Light of Mine? What does it go on to say, “Hide it under a bushel… NO! I am going to let it shine.” Elijah could have spent his remaining years living by the brook but unless he moved on we would never have the greatest parts of the story, and there would be no legacy left in his student and friend Elisha.
Lessons from Elijah’s time at the Brook
I recently read some of Chuck Swindoll’s thoughts on Elijah and following my reading of that, I think we can learn the following lessons from Elijah’s time at the Brook Cherith:
We must be willing to take a break from the action and be set aside for a while.
God’s directions always include God’s provision. If you find yourself somewhere where there is no provision, then evaluate whether you are there because of his direction.
Trust in God one day at a time. We almost never know what he has in store for us. Notice that God never told Elijah the next step until he had taken the first step.
A dried up brook is often a sign of God’s pleasure not his disappointment. When the Brook of Cherith dried up, it was not because God was punishing Elijah. Rather, he was giving his tacit approval to Elijah saying, you are ready for the next phase of ministry.
From Basic to Advanced
Have you ever found yourself engaged in a task perhaps in school or on the job where you thought, “Wow, that was really challenging, but I think I understand everything now.”
In 2019, I left the job that I had been doing in the Air Force for 10 years and began a new career in the Air Force. I was accepted into a three year training program where the first two years proved to be a challenge, but midway into the second year, I found myself comfortable and understanding my role. This was in preparation for my third year of the program where the training and work became significantly more complex. Without those first two years, I would not have been able to get through the third year. Essentially, I had transitioned from basic training to advanced training.
For Elijah, the Brook Cherith represented Elijah’s basic training, and Zerephath was his advanced training. Once again, the words here have a deeper meaning than our English Bibles allow us to see. Zerephath as a verb means to melt and as a noun it means crucible. So from Cherith to Zerephath we see cutting down to melting. We can visualize this by thinking of a wood craftsman’s external focus on appearance versus a welder’s internal focus on the strength of the bond existing between two joined pieces of metal. Essentially, Elijah had jumped from a room temperature environment to a fiery furnace.
In Elijah’s first step of faith, he was tasked with leaving Cherith from the far eastern edge of Israel West across Israel. He wasn’t exactly on speaking terms with Ahab who had the entire army searching for him, and Elijah had to trust that God would protect him as he made his journey.
When Elijah arrived in Zerephath, he found a woman gathering sticks to make a fire that she believed would cook the last meal that she and her son would enjoy. It is safe to assume that she was experiencing feelings of sorrow and fear. Have you ever encountered someone experiencing fear? What are some of your observations? It is contagious! Often, when we meet someone who is genuinely afraid we begin experiencing this same emotion. Elijah met this woman where she was at and responded to her trepidation with confidence. He had faith in God’s provision. In fact, he tells her in chapter 17 verse 13, “Do not fear; go and do…” Here we can learn that just as fear is contagious so is a strong faith in God. In verse 15, we see, “So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah…” Elijah’s faith helped take her fear and turn it into simple obedience. When we are walking in faith, we can lead others to do so too simply through the humble confidence God blesses us with when we know we are abiding in his will.
The first person raised back to life
Sometime after Elijah arrived in Zerephath, the widow’s son becomes ill and passes away. In her grief, she becomes angry with Elijah. She states, “What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?” Notice Elijah’s response, “Give me your son.” Elijah doesn’t try to persuade her that she is lashing out and her feelings are off base. He understands her grief and anger. For us when we encounter someone who is grieving and angry, the worst thing we can say in the moment are platitudes designed to let them know it is going to get better. Often, the best thing we can do in these situations is provide silent companionship.
Elijah responds in faith and enters unchartered territory. In the verses that follow, we witness the first recorded miracle where someone is brought from the dead. Elijah (that we know of) has no prophets that have gone before him providing the manual for the resurrection process. He writes the process. Notice the simple, straightforward humility of his approach. He states, “O Lord my God, I pray let this child’s soul come back to him.” Have you ever prayed long prayers dancing around asking God what you really want to ask him? I have, and when I reflect on my heart condition at the time, I can see that it came from a place of not having faith in God to ask him what was really on my heart. As I have grown in my walk, I have learned to approach God and share what is really on my heart.
This summer we have struggled with this mysterious swelling that has been afflicting Ezra’s face. There have been numerous medical visits and procedures in Fort Walton and Pensacola. Finally, one day as I was driving into work I prayed, “Father, you know what is wrong and you are the healer. I know that if it is your will you could heal him instantly. I also know that you can guide his physicians and let them find an answer. That day we were finally given an answer. While it is an annoying condition that he may have to deal with for some time, it is not anything harmful.”
Again, Elijah placed his faith in God, and the son was restored to life. We see that Elijah then takes the child and brings him to his mother. Notice his humble statement, “See, your son lives!” Both in English and Hebrew Elijah refrains from injecting himself into the narrative. He does not say see this miracle that I performed, or I prayed for your son and he lives now. Elijah in this moment of heroism had an opening for pride, but kept the attention off himself. The result was that the widow’s faith in God was strengthened. She states, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is true.” The glory was God’s alone and through Elijah’s humility hardened hearts were softened and brought closer to the Lord.
The Confrontation
After three years had passed, God told Elijah that it was time to confront Ahab. When they were finally brought together, Ahab states, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” In Hebrew, this word trouble is interesting as it can also mean viper. Basically, Ahab refers to Elijah as a viper. Instead of facing his sin and accepting the consequences of his idolatry, he is looking to blame Elijah for the suffering and misery experienced by his kingdom. Elijah calls it how it is, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have…” There is no drawn out debate, and I think we can learn that there are times when we need keep ourselves from being sucked into someone else’s narrative. Our calling as Christians requires us to rise above petty drama and focus on the truth.
Having read a fair amount of ancient literature, I can tell you that in chapter 18 verses 20 through 40 we read one of the greatest stories ever written. Elijah again acting in faith allows the situation to be set up completely in the prophets of Baal’s favor. They pick the bull, they pick their spot, and they go first. Elijah has issued a challenge whichever deity responds follow that one. He knows what the result will be but wants to give those in the audience no excuse. Of course after a day spent being mocked and mutilating themselves, the prophets of Baal are unsuccessful. Elijah then ups the ante and tells them to soak his alter in water. Some use this as an opportunity to attack the validity of the narrative. They are in a three year drought where is this water coming from? However, if you know the geography of the region, it makes sense. Today, Mt. Carmel is only 5 miles from the Mediterranean Sea, and it is likely that in Elijah’s time it was even closer. Then Elijah prays a simple prayer, the Lord responds, and the people begin worshipping the Lord, the one true God.
The Execution
Immediately following this, Elijah directs the weakened prophets of Baal to be gathered up, and he executes them at the Brook Kishon (which ironically can be translated into English as sore). When I would hear this story as a child, I would always cheer for Elijah’s win, but then wonder why he behaved so brutally following the win. The reason is that we are called to completely eliminate any evil within our lives. Root it out! When we lived in Colorado, our backyard was plagued with thistles. Here in Florida, a thistle in the sand pulls right out, but in that hard, dry packed soil of Colorado thistles are nearly impossible to pull out as their roots can extend many feet under the surface of the ground as they search for water. The only way to rid the yard of thistles was to pull every last weed by the root out. And just for the record, we never did pull out every thistle. The new owners eventually won by removing all vegetation and covering the yard in rocks. While we may not be called to execute prophets of Baal, we are called to eliminate sin from our hearts.
Rain on the Horizon
Over and over we have seen the trust that Elijah places in God. Following the execution of the prophets, Elijah says to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sounds of abundance of rain…” We may think that this means a rain storm was visible or perhaps thunder began to roll across the coastline. I am being somewhat presumptive, but at this point, I believe that it is still a cloudless, hot dry day. I believe that the sound of rain was Elijah’s own trust in God’s promise. The reason I think this is because Ahab goes away to eat and drink. Elijah bows down and tells his servant “Go up and look toward the sea.” Elijah and the servant do this six times and there is nothing each time. Then on the seventh time, a tiny cloud is seen on the horizon. That cloud then turned into a rain storm that the land had not witnessed in years.
Transition to the Blues
We are familiar with the narrative, and we know that Ahab and Elijah engage in a furious race down the side of the mountain where Elijah outruns Ahab in his chariot. Jezebel promises to kill Elijah, and all of the sudden we see Elijah crumple. He retreated into the wilderness and requested that God take his life. As this story has been taught to me, many have taken it as an opportunity to assert that Elijah is bipolar, or Elijah demonstrates he is human by blowing a glorious existence to engage in a sinful pity party. Elijah is depressed, but he is demonstrating to us that he is human.
Years ago, I decided to train for a marathon. The process was rigorous and was like having a second full-time job. On the day of the race, the energy of the crowd propelled me for the first 16 miles. It was a lot of fun. My training got me through the next 4 miles, and at mile 20, I realized that I was in a lot of pain, I still had 6.2 miles left, and not too long ago, I thought 6.2 miles was a really long race. Willpower and this ancient marathon running great grandpa got me through those last miles. The race terminated in a minor league stadium that was filled with thousands of people from all over the region cheering for the finishers. I have never been in as much pain and exhaustion as I was then, and I found myself trying not to cry. Following that experience, I found it difficult to run again from the sheer exhaustion and the mental block of how do I ever compete with that again? That was a mountain top experience, and it will never be the same. It is a common phenomenon for first time marathon runners, and I believe that Elijah was experiencing something similar.
In God’s intervention, notice what he does. He feeds him and lets him rest in the quiet wilderness. God doesn’t say get back at it Elijah you slug! No, God understands where Elijah is at and he gives him this moment of rest. Finally, after 40 days and 40 nights, the Lord reaches out and says, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” In Elijah's response, we see self-pity, and we see the distortion of reality that self-pity causes. Elijah thinks he is alone, but God shows him the truth.
A mission and a friend
Then God gives Elijah a mission and a gift. We are going to have moments where we retreat to the cave. We are going to have moments of self-pity. Some may find feelings of shame trapping them in the cave. Our internal voice may say, “You have been in the cave too long. You are no longer fit for service.” We need to rest and recover, but we also have to be willing to follow God’s calling when he says it is time to proceed with the mission.
For Elijah, the mission was to anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Does anyone know the gift that God provided Elijah at this time? A friend and student named Elisha. As Christians we need companionship and we need to pass the ministry on from generation to the next. Elisha fills both of these roles for Elijah.
The Final Chapter
In the final chapter of Elijah’s life, he knows that it is time to be taken up to heaven. He starts his journey at Gilgal, the location of the Israelites campsite before they crossed the Jordan into Canaan. From there, he goes on to Bethel where Abraham had built his altar and met with the Lord. Then he proceeded to Jericho where the Israelites had been victorious in battle, and finally, he went on to the river Jordan. During this whole process, he had been trying to get Elisha to stop following him, and it seems that this may have been a test for Elisha. And, Elisha proved himself a relentless follower.
We know of Elijah’s offer, Elisha’s, request and the result of that… But look at their final moments, “Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses on fire, and separated the two of them…” We see two friends walking and talking enjoying each other’s company; then Elijah is carried off into glory.
Concluding Thoughts
Christians are to actively engage their culture! As ambassadors of Christ we uphold a standard. Earth is not purgatory nor is it heaven’s waiting room. We are here on earth called to do ministry and called to stand for what is right and wrong. We see today out of a reaction to legalism all these cute sayings about the importance of showing that God is love. There is a time and place for that. Notice the difference in how Elijah treated the widow’s unbelief versus the idolatry of the prophets of Baal. But, we can’t forget how he treated the prophets of Baal. Wickedness must be rooted out.
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