Who Was Elijah & Why Is His Bible Story Still Important Today?

Elijah’s message and the meaning of his name go together like a fresh glass of milk and warm cookies. He walked, talked, and encouraged others to believe that truly the Lord was God—just as his name purported.

As a prophet he adamantly shared God’s message and warnings. Often, both came under fire. Sometimes, however, people turned from following false gods and found themselves deep in worship of the Holy One.

Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”
The people didn’t say a word. 1 Kings 18:21 WEB

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Time after time in Scripture we see folks leaning their ear toward the Almighty. Include Elijah on this list. Call him a man who heard God.

Peppered throughout 1 Kings 17- 22 as well as in 2 Kings 1 & 2, we see instances of Elijah leaning his ear.

Then Yahweh’s word came to him… 1 Kings 17:2 WEB

He came to a cave there, and camped there; and behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:9 WEB

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Multiple times God directed Elijah to speak hard truths, trust for provision when circumstances appeared bleak, or stand firm in faith of God’s promises being fulfilled. Time and time again, Elijah set the example of loyal obedience to God our Father.

So he went and did according to Yahweh’s word; for he went and lived by the brook Cherith that is before the Jordan. 1 Kings 17:5 WEB

So he arose and went to Zarephath;… 1 Kings 17:10a WEB

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Elijah drank in God’s promises and found his needs quenched by the Almighty’s hand. Here are three instances:

• Ravens fed him. (1 Kings 17:1-6)
• A handful of flour and a few drops of oil multiplied for miraculous sustenance. (1 Kings 17:7-24)
• Elijah ran with energy far beyond human capability. (1 Kings 18:41-46)

God’s provision displayed powerfully and beautifully in the life of Elijah. These instances and others can easily turn our eyes toward our Father’s love, healing, wisdom, and provision as well.

You shall drink from the brook. I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 1 Kings 17:4 WEB

The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. 1 Kings 17:8 WEB

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We see Elijah in communion with God many times throughout the Old Testament. He sets an example for us in our own walk of faith. He stands as a voice encouraging all to grab prayer and be a warrior, to know the LORD is God and follow him.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn’t rain on the earth for three years and six months. James 5:17 WEB

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We see miracles threaded throughout Elijah’s ministry. He stood as a man who trusted God, one who anticipated God fulfilling his promise. In the process, we also see miracles.

A bull offering doused in water, enough to overflow and fill the surrounding trench, proved no match for the fire of God. I’d consider that a miracle at the hands of God Almighty.

Then Yahweh’s fire fell, and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 1 Kings 18:38

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The message Elijah championed rang clear and seemingly easy, but not everyone wanted to hear its contents. Jezebel stood at the front of that line. She sought out and put prophets of God to death. Meanwhile, her husband, King Ahab, allowed it and simply continued worshiping Baal.

An unwelcomed message, however, didn’t deter Elijah. He bravely championed God Almighty and the messages given from Above, even when those messages offered challenges, correction, or bad news for the one receiving them.

He answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here!’” 1 Kings 18:8 WEB

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Jezebel coaxed her husband, King Ahab, into Baal worship versus God worship. Ahab did evil in the eyes of the Lord, forsaking the Lord’s commandments. It was an ugly scene in Israel.

Enter Elijah. God sent him to offer hard words, to bring accountability and warning where both proved due, and to champion belief in the Almighty. Follow the thread as he confronts Ahab then challenges followers of Baal with water, an offering, and fire—all noted in 1 Kings 18.

He answered, “I have not troubled Israel; but you, and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken Yahweh’s commandments, and you have followed the Baals. 1 Kings 18:18 WEB

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Many times Elijah found himself in the midst of a seemingly dimming situation. But he held belief. When promised rain remained absent, Elijah held belief, sending his servant to check the horizon seven times. Just as God promised, it rained.

God’s promises remain true for us today.

He said to his servant, “Go up now, and look toward the sea.”

He went up, and looked, and said, “There is nothing.”

He said, “Go again” seven times. 1 Kings 18:43 WEB

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At times, it’s easy to hold a perception that folks like David, Moses, and Paul loom larger-than-life. But they struggled with emotions, evidenced in the Bible. Elijah wrestled as well. His life rang authentic. The man who stood in solid obedience and courage also ran in fear.

Throughout 1 Kings 19 we see Elijah grappling amid the battle with fear. But we also see God. As Elijah turns focus to the LORD, the scene changes. The fear clawing and scratching at Elijah dissolves. So yes, Elijah ran in fear, but he also found courage through God.   

When he saw that, he arose, and ran for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 1 Kings 19:3 WEB

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When I read 1 Kings 19’s account of Elijah fleeing from the clutches of evil Jezebel, I breathe a sigh of relief. The sigh isn’t birthed by the fact that Elijah fled or that Jezebel tossed her evil threats his way. (After all, who takes kindly to threats of murder? Yikes!) The sigh rises from yet another realization that Elijah was a real person facing authentic, human emotions.

Discouragement is or has been a battle for many of us. Reading Elijah’s account reassures we’re not alone. Even a prophet, a strong man of faith, faced its torrent. But the waters of discouragement failed to overtake him. Our man of faith found God’s direction, provision, and correction. He found strength to squelch and overcome discouragement.

Then he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough. Now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” 1 Kings 19:4 WEB

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How easy it is to view life through the lens of human vision. We often see situations as they appear, not how they can be, or we simply make assumptions based on circumstances. Elijah proved no different.

A small vision, focus of the human kind, assured he was the only follower of God left, that everyone else had fallen into worship of the false god, Baal. That proved far from the truth. In 1 King’s 19:18, we see mention of 7,000 Israelites who refused to bow a knee to Baal. Elijah wasn’t alone as he supposed.

We can trust the vision of our heavenly Father.

He said, “I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” 1 Kings 19:10 WEB

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One moment Elijah walked this earth, the next he was taken up into heaven. Elisha, his successor, watched it unfold. I often wonder what emotions Elisha encountered at that moment.

As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 2 Kings 2:11 WEB

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When Elijah departed earth, a legacy remained. Elisha, the prophet mentioned earlier, clung to Elijah. He received a double portion as a result of being present when Elijah departed. Elisha went on to champion the message of following God Almighty and no other. Elijah’s legacy continued.

When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 2 Kings 2:15 WEB

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Imagine the view: Elijah standing alongside Moses, the two conversing with Jesus. A hushed holiness washes straight over me whenever I consider it. Elijah didn’t have to imagine. Peter, John, and James witnessed this spiritual wonder.

Jesus was about to experience the jeers of many, the pain of crucifixion. The three together, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, represented fulfillment of the promise of salvation. Moses symbolized the law. Elijah represented the prophets, the restoration of all things. And we know that Jesus fulfilled the promise of salvation beautifully.  

Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him. Matt. 17:3 WEB

These are a few attributes of the man we know as Elijah. For a more thorough view of the prophet, we can read through 1 Kings 17-22, 2 Kings 1-2, Malachi 4:5-6, Matthew 17:1-13, John 1:21, and James 5:17. Then, when someone asks us, “Who was Elijah?” we’ll have an answer straight from the Bible.

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