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35. Elijah (Elias)

 

As we look at the Old Testament, we see kings like David, prophets like Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha, and priests. All of them are pointing forward through all of the prophecies to someone greater who is coming. Did you know that there is over 300 prophecies across the Old Testament that describe the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? All of those 300+ prophecies, some of them made hundreds and thousands of years ahead of time, were all designed to show, prove, and evidence that God had not abandoned his people. His people had abandoned Him.  We had turned our back on God, but God was sent His son through a humanly-impossible birth to come and but be the sacrifice we need. Hear the prophecies and believe that Jesus is the fulfillment.  Jesus is the Messiah.

·      Read in The Qur’an – 6:83-86

 

Readings from The Qur’an:

·      The Qur'an 6:83-86. And that was Our Proof which We gave Ibrahim (Abraham) against his people. We raise whom We will in degrees. Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing. 84. And We bestowed upon him Ishaq (Isaac) and Ya'qub (Jacob), each of them We guided, and before him, We guided Nub (Noah), and among his progeny Dawud (David), Sulaiman (Solomon), Ayyub (Job), Yusuf (Joseph), Musa (Moses), and Harun (Aaron). Thus do We reward Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers - see the footnote of V .9:120). 85. And Zakariya (Zechariah), and Yahya (John) and 'Isa (Jesus) and Iliyas (Elias), each one of them was of the righteous. 86. And Isma'il {Ishmael) and Al-Yasa' (Elisha), and Yunus (Jonah) and Lut (Lot), and each one of them We preferred above the 'Alamin [mankind and jinn (of their times)].

  • The Qur’an 6:83-86 “We guided…Iliyas (Elias), each one of them was of the righteous.”

  • The Qur’an 37:123 “And verily, Iliyas (Elias) was one of the Messengers.”

·      Since the Qur’an says revelation and guidance came to Iliyas (Elias/Elijah), and through the Torat (Torah), shouldn’t Muslims know the full story of Iliyas (Elias/Elijah), given in the Tanakh and Bible?

 

Readings from The Tanakh and The Bible:

·      Bold and Courageous: (1 Kings 18:17-19 ESV) When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” [18] And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. [19] 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.”

·      Does Elijah have a good reputation or a bad reputation?  Explain.

·      Are we often over-concerned for our reputation in an unhelpful way?

·      If we are going to be regarded as offensive or troublesome by non-believers, for what reason should we offend?

·      If you didn’t know how the story ends, would you say Elijah appears courageous or unwise?  What is the difference?

·      Makes Clear Call to Repentance:  So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. [21] And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 

·      How does our world go “limping between” different opinions?

·      How are we tempted towards divided loyalties?

·      How can our own silence oftentimes condemn us?

·      Rebukes False gods: [27] 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.” [28] And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. [29] 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.

·      Why is Elijah mocking?  Is that a good technique for evangelism and missions?  Why or why not?

·      How are false religions or false worship ultimately silent on the most important questions of life?

·      Dependence Upon and Trust in God: (1 Kings 18:20-40 ESV) 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. [31] 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,” [32] 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. [33] 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.” [34] 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. [35] And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. [36] 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. [37] 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.” [38] 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. [39] And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” [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.

·      Is Elijah showboating?  What is his motivation?

·      Look at Elijah’s prayer in v.36-37.  What can we learn from how he prays?

·      How do the people react to the Lord’s response?  How should we react to God’s great power?  Why do we often stutter-step in response to God’s work?

·      Makes a Cowardly Retreat: (1 Kings 19:1-3 ESV) Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.”  [3] Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

·      How does Elijah go from being so bold and courageous to being a coward?

·      How is this a warning to us?

·      In what parts of life do we demonstrate that we often fear man more than fearing God?

·      Watch God’s Restoration: (1 Kings 19:9-18 ESV) the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. [12] And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. [13] And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””

·      How does Elijah experience the Lord’s presence?

·      Why is the Lord described as coming as a “low whisper”?  What can we learn from that description?

·      What are the “Baals” of our society?   How have we been guilty of bowing our knees and kissing these idols?  What should our response be to our past failings?

 

10 Miracles of God in Elijah’s Life:

1.     Ravens Feed Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-7)

2.    Widow’s Flour and Oil Multiplies with Elijah (1 Kings 17:14-16)

3.    Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son from the Dead (1 Kings 17:17-24)

4.    Elijah’s Words Brings Drought and then Rain (1 Kings 17-18)

5.    Fire on Mt. Carmel, Prophets of Ba’al Defeated (1 Kings 18:20-40)

6.    Elijah’s Running Faster than King Ahab’s Chariot (1 King 18:46)

7.    Elijah Given a Hot Meal and Water from an Angel (1 Kings 19:6)

8.   Fire Consumes 102 Soldiers at Elijah’s Command (2 Kings 1:10-16)

9.    Elijah and Elisha Part the Jordan River with a Cloak (2 Kings 2:7-8, 14)

10. Elijah Carried to Heaven (2 Kings 2:11)

 

 

See also:

·      “What does the Bible say about Elijah?” www.trustworthyword.com/elijah

·      “The Kings and Prophets of the Old Testament (Tanakh)” www.trustworthyword.com/kings-prophets

·      “What does the Bible say about Prophets?” www.trustworthyword.com/prophets