Pentecost 11a SS

Elijah the Tishibite: Prophet during the reign of Ahab.

1 Kings 16:28–30 “Omri rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king in his place. Ahab son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Asa; Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight more than all who were before him.”

Major Events: The Drought, the water and the ravens, the healing of the widows son, the jar of flour of oil , Elijah and the prophets.

1 Kings 19:9–18 “He entered a cave there and spent the night. Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Adam where are you…

He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”

Why is fear/doubt an interesting response for Elijah?

Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.” At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.

Mountains in the OT…

Mighty wind, earthquake, fire. All theophonies in the OT.

And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Quiet as a spiritual discipline.

“I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”

Got two chances to answer the question…

Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.

Comparison of the quiet way in which God speaks to the ordinary way he brings about political change.

Anointing a Syrian King. Political change outside Israel.

Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. But I will leave seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.””

Israel is not Judah, and has not behaved, and yet there is a remnant that God has set aside.