Elijah, man of God
Elijah is a towering figure in the Hebrew Bible. His remarkable prophetic work is introduced in I Kings 17 with three proofs of God’s supremacy—supplying food for Elijah, multiplying flour and oil during a famine, and restoring the life of a widow’s son.
Perhaps the most celebrated example of Elijah’s commitment to the one God was his public challenge to 450 Israelite seers who worshiped the weather god, Baal (see 18:17–39). He called on them to petition Baal for fire on their sacrificial altar, but no fire appeared. Elijah then illustrated God’s sovereignty by successfully praying to Him for fire. And the people replied, “The Lord, he is the God.”
Despite this extraordinary evidence, however, the prophet fled in fear to Mount Horeb when pagan queen Jezebel threatened his life. There God showed Elijah that His power was not in wind, earthquake, or fire (elements attributed by some idolaters to Baal) but in “a still small voice” (see 19:1–12). Centuries after this, Elijah (Elias in Greek) appeared at Christ Jesus’ transfiguration (see Mark 9:2–4).
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