BIBLELESS ~ )NS LESSON7

Elijah-A Man of Miracles

ELIJAH A MAN OFMIRACLES

the Lordof to

_____ than all the of_____ that were _him" (I Kings 16:33).

Baasha, Zimri and Omri each reignedas kings over Israel after the death ofJeroboam. All were idolatrous andwicked.

When Omri died, his son Ahabbecame the next ruler of Israel. He wentfurther into idolatry than all the kings ofIsrael before him. "Andmade a ; and _did more to

ISRAEL'S IDOLATRY

In the last lesson, we learned how thepeople of Israel were led astray from thetrue God. They followed the example oftheir leaders and began to worship falsegods. As the years passed, they becamemore and more involved in idolatry.

You may remember how Jeroboamobtained the kingdom of Israel fromRehoboam and deliberately led thepeople of Israel into idolatry. Review thelast lesson and briefly list several waysJeroboam led the people of Israel awayfrom the true God. _

YES Photo

ABOUT OUR COVER . . .Mt. Carmel in Israel, where God demonstrated Hispower to the people of Israel by sending fire fromheaven to consume Elijah's sacrifice.

Has a miracle ever occurred in yourlife or in the life of someone you

have known? Perhaps you know of aperson who was healed by God of aterrible sickness or disease. Or maybeyou know of someone who was savedfrom certain death by a miracle fromGod!

As we have learned in previouslessons, the Bible is filled with manydramatic and outstanding miracles. Youmay recall some of these miracles, suchas the ten plagues on Egypt, the partingof the Red Sea, and God's deliverance ofthe nation of Judah from the Ethiopianarmy of one million men. On a numberof occasions, the dead were even raisedto life!

In this lesson we will learn about afaithful servant of God named Elijah, aman whom God used in dealing with theidolatrous nation of Israel. God per­formed many miracles through Elijah toshow the king and the nation who is thetrue God, the God they should havebeen worshipping.

2 Illustrations by Basil Wolverton

JEZEBEL'S EVIL INFLUENCE

Ahab chose as his wife a womannamed Jezebel. She came from Zidon(also known as Sidon), a country to thenorth of Israel.

Jezebel was a cruel, scheming Ca­naanite woman who detested God andwanted to plunge the nation of Israelfurther into idolatry. She influencedAhab to build a temple and a great altarfor the false god Baal, whom sheworshipped. The people of Israel blindlyfollowed their leaders and began toworship Baal also.

Have you ever noticed that peopletend to follow their political, social andreligious leaders? People often acceptthe opinions of certain entertainers,governors and presidents as being thetruth, without really checking to besure.

You may wish to ask your parents tohelp you list famous people whoseopinions and styles have influencedothers. If you do not already know, askthem how the style of long hair for menbecame popular in the United Statesand Great Britain in the early 1960s.(Be sure to read I Corinthians 11:14 tofind out what God thinks about longhair on a man.)

Adolph Hitler is an example of anational leader who profoundly in­fluenced an entire nation. Under hisleadership, many innocent people wereput to death in the 1940s during WorldWar II.

In some cases, leaders have alsoinfluenced people to perform good

deeds. When leaders obey God, theirfollowers are more likely to obey Himalso.

But Ahab and Jezebel were wickedand evil in God's sight. Jezebel's hatredfor those who followed God was sointense that she sent soldiers to kill thosewho were known to be true prophets ofGod. Ahab did not object to thiswholesale murder.

GOD SENDS ELIJAHTO PROCLAIM A DROUGHT

Because of the great wickedness andevil taking place, God decided tointervene and punish the idolatrousnation for its own good. He chose a mannamed Elijah to show King Ahab andthe people of Israel who is the trueGod-to restore the worship of the trueGod and obedience to His command­ments.

Elijah was one of the few who hadremained faithful to God and refused tofollow in the idolatrous ways of theIsraelites. God told him to leave hishome in Gilead and deliver an importantmessage to the king. Elijah obeyed andsome time later arrived in the capitalcity of Samaria.

Upon entering the palace, Elijah saidto the king, "I stand before the true Godof Israel. As surely as He lives, therewill be no more rain in the land until Ireturn to announce otherwise."

Elijah then turned and left the palace.Ahab, who probably did not believe theprophet, made no attempt to stop him.

The first few weeks of dry weatherwere not all that unusual-after all, rain

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A flock of ravens delivered food to Elijah twiceeach day at the Brook Cherith.

-,...

Elijah did during the passing months hespent at the brook. Apparently he wasalone, and was never seen by Ahab'sservants.

Because there had been no rain inmonths, the brook eventually dried up.God, who faithfully fed Elijah twiceeach day, could have also given himwater in a miraculous way. But Hechose not to do so.

Instead, God told Elijah to leave thebrook and go to the town of Zarephath.Located in Zidon, Zarephath was abouta hundred miles north of Samaria on theeastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea.There Elijah would find a certain widowwho would supply him with food andlodging.

After Elijah had announced thecoming drought to Ahab, God said tohim, "Get thee , and turnthee , and _thyself by the brook ,that is before . And it shallbe, that thou shalt of thebrook; and I have the________ to thee there" (IKings 17:3-4).

Elijah obeyed God and had immedi­ately left for safety.

At the Brook Cherith, which flowedinto the Jordan River, Elijah found asuitable place to sleep, perhaps in a cavenear the brook. He drank the waterfrom the brook. Twice each day a flockof ravens, sent by God, delivered hismeat and bread. Although Elijah did notknow exactly where the meat and breadcame from, he knew God sent it, and hewas very thankful.

God sustained Elijah's life in thismiraculous way every morning andevening during the time he was at thebrook.

The Bible does not mention what

may not fall for many weeks at a time.But as the months passed, Ahab beganthinking more and more about whatElijah had said.

Four months passed, then five, six andseven months. Still no rain-even duringthe season when rain was supposed tofall! Eventually Ahab realized thatElijah had spoken the truth! He beganan intensive search for the prophet, butElijah was nowhere to be found!

GOD MIRACULOUSLY FEEDS ELIJAH

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A CONTINUOUS SUPPLYOF FOOD

As Elijah approached the gates of thecity, he saw a woman gathering sticks.She was the widow God had described tohim.

Elijah walked toward the widow andsaid, "Please bring me a cup of water todrink."

The widow turned to fulfill Elijah'srequest. As she was leaving, Elijah spoketo her again. "Please bring me a smallpiece of bread also," he said.

Somehow the widow knew Elijah wasa servant of God. She said to him, "Asthe Eternal your God lives, I don't evenhave a loaf of bread. I have only ahandful of meal in a barrel and a littleoil in a jar."

The widow then added sadly, "I amgathering a few sticks with which tobuild a fire. I plan to bake the oil andmeal into a bit of bread. My son and Iwill eat it and then," she continuedweakly, "we will die" (I Kings 17:12).

Elijah, in a positive tone answeredher, "Don't be afraid. Go and do as youhave said. But make me a small cake ofbread first. Bring it to me andafterwards, make some for yourself andyour son."

Elijah then assured her, "For thussaith the Lord God of Israel, The

of shall notneither shall the cruse of

________, until the day thatthe Lordupon the earth" (I Kings 17:14).

What a wonderful and unusual

miracle God was to perform! Godplanned to feed Elijah and save awoman and her young son fromstarvation.

Imagine having a container of flourthat you couldn't use up. Each time youtook out a cupful, flour still remained.No matter how much flour you used,there was always more!

Trusting God to keep His promise,the woman went to prepare the meal.She baked Elijah's meal first, then herown and her son's. Later, when shereturned to prepare another meal, shediscovered that there was plenty of flourand oil.

From that day until the droughtended, she never had to worry aboutfood. She fed Elijah, her son and herselffor many days (I Kings 17:15).

Because the widow helped Elijah, God blessed herwith enough food to last throughout the drought.

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THE DEAD RAISED TO LIFE

Elijah lived with the widow and herson for many months. He slept in anupstairs room in her house.

One day the widow's young sonbecame ill. As the days passed, hisillness grew increasingly worse. "His

was so[serious], that there was no _left in " (I Kings 17:17).

The widow pitifully embraced thelimp and lifeless body of her son. Shesomehow felt that Elijah had somethingto do with her son's death.

"What have I to do with you?" sheasked. "Have you come here to remindme of my past sins, and to bring aboutthe death of my son?"

The widow's words were very harshand unkind. She apparently forgotabout the miracle God had beenperforming since Elijah had come toher home.

But Elijah reacted in a gentle manner."Give the boy to me," he said.

The prophet took the limp bodyfrom his mother's arms. He walked upthe stairway to his upstairs room,where he had lived since coming toZarephath. There he laid the boy onhis bed.

Elijah then stretched out his ownbody over the boy's lifeless form. "Inyour mercy," he earnestly prayed toGod, "please bring this child back tolife" (I Kings 17:21).

Elijah may not have understood whythe child died, but he had faith that Godwould answer his prayer.

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God did hear and answer Elijah'searnest prayer. The boy's heart began tobeat; his cold body warmed. After amoment the boy began to breathe andmove.

Elijah rose, picked up the living childand carried him downstairs. "See!" hesaid to the child's mother, "Your sonlives!"

The mother eagerly received heryoung son. With tears of joy sheapologized to Elijah for her unkindwords.

"I now know," she told the prophet,"that you are a man of God and that thewords you speak are words of truth!"(I Kings 17:24.)

DROUGHT SOON TO END

Many days and weeks passed andElijah continued hiding in Zarephathwith the widow and her son.

Finally, God told Elijah that thedrought would soon come to an end. Bythis time the entire land yearned forwater.

According to James 5:17, how longdid the drought last?

All over the land of Israel plants, treesand even animals died from the lack ofwater.

In a severe drought, water is so scarceit is rationed. To ration somethingmeans to divide it carefully so that itwill last as long as possible. Usually nowater for washing or bathing is allowed.People receive only a very small amountfor drinking-just enough to keep theirbodies alive.

ELIJAH REVEALS HIMSELF TO AHAB

After three and one-half years ofdrought, God told Elijah to return toIsrael and see Ahab. "Go show yourselfto the king," God said. "Tell him I willsend rain and end the drought."

While Elijah traveled southwardtoward Samaria, Ahab and his chiefservant, Obadiah, searched the country­side. They were looking for grass to feedthe king's starving horses and mules.Ahab headed a group which searched inone area and Obadiah headed anothergroup which searched in a differentarea.

As Elijah neared the capital city, hemet Obadiah. Although Obadiah wasAhab's chief steward, he greatly fearedGod. In fact, Obadiah had risked hisown life to save the lives of a hundred ofGod's prophets when Jezebel first beganher campaign to kill all of God'sprophets. Obadiah secretly hid them incaves in nearby mountains and gavethem food and water to live on (I Kings18:3-4).

When Obadiah saw Elijah, he bowedbefore him. "Is it really you, Elijah?" heasked in astonishment. "We havesearched everywhere for you."

Read I Kings 18:8 for Elijah's reply."And he answered him, ____, tell thy lord [Ahab], Behold,

"

"I can't do that," Obadiah fearfullyreplied. "By the time I tell Ahab you arehere, you might be gone. God may carryyou away secretly again to protect you.If I say you are here and Ahab finds

you aren't, he will have me killed.""Ahab has searched all over for you,"

continued Obadiah. "He asked the kingsof the surrounding nations to help himlook for you. When the rulers said theycould not find you, Ahab had themswear they were telling the truth."

Elijah calmed Obadiah's fears bysaying, "As the Eternal of hosts lives,before whom I stand, I will show myselfto Ahab today."

Elijah referred to God as the Eternalof hosts to remind Obadiah that Godwould protect them.

Obadiah now felt more confident, andwent to tell Ahab the news. "I havefound Elijah, the prophet!" heannounced to the startled king.

Excitedly, Ahab went to meet Elijah."Well," he growled at the prophet, "wemeet again at last! Are you the one whotroubles Israel?"

"I have not troubled Israel. You andyour father's house are the ones whohave troubled Israel," Elijah boldlyretorted. "You have turned from Godand have followed Baal!"

Clearly Elijah did not fear Ahab.Elijah's boldness intrigued the king.Because he felt Elijah was the key todesperately needed rain, Ahab did notorder his men to execute him. Instead,he listened as Elijah continued tospeak.

"Send word to all the people of Israelto gather at Mount Carmel," Elijahsaid. "Then, assemble the 450 prophetsof Baal and 400 of Jezebel's specialprophets that eat at her table."

Hoping this might mean the end of

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the drought, Ahab agreed to Elijah'sunusual request.

ELIJAH CONFRONTS THE PROPHETSOF BAAL

When all the people assembled a fewdays later, Elijah arrived. It was earlymorning. Ahab arrived along with 450prophets of Baal. But Jezebel and her400 special prophets did not attend.

From a high peak Elijah's voiceboomed out to the crowd below. "Howlong halt ye between_____? if the be

him: but if_____, then "(I Kings 18:21).

The people silently listened to whatElijah had to say. He then proposed a

contest which would show who is thetrue God.

"Let the 450 prophets prepare asacrifice to Baal," Elijah said. "I alonewill prepare a sacrifice to God. Let no oneput fire under the sacrifices. Let the 450prophets call out to Baal and 1will pray toGod." Elijah paused for emphasis, thenfinished by saying, "Let the God whoanswers by fire be the true God."

The crowd responded to the sincerityand simplicity of Elijah's proposal byshouting "Agreed!" in chorus.

Elijah told the false prophets tochoose a bullock for sacrifice. "You mayhave the first opportunity to prove to thepeople whether Baal is the true God," hesaid.

The prophets of Baal prepared their

The prophets of Baal danced and sang wildly for hours, hoping their god would answer with fire.

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sacrifice. The animal was slaughteredand cut up before the onlookers, andplaced on a hastily constructed altar.

Finally, the sacrifice was ready. Theprophets danced around the altar,singing and yelling to Baal. All morninglong they called Baal to answer withfire. They continued to leap and danceabout the altar.

For hours, Elijah sat close by,watching the commotion. At noon hestarted mocking the dancing prophets."If you yell a little louder maybe he willhear you," Elijah shouted.

"Maybe Baal is in conference. Orperhaps he has taken a short vacation.Maybe he is asleep. Yell louder and hemight wake up!" Elijah's tone insultedthe pagans.

The prophets responded to Elijah'staunts. They cried even louder, "0 Baal,hear us!"

What did they do next? Write outI Kings 18:28 on the following lines.

These foolish activities continueduntil mid-afternoon. Still Baal did notanswer.

GOD'S FIERY ANSWER

Ignoring the false prophets, Elijahcalmly rose and motioned for the peopleto come closer. Years earlier on MountCarmel, the people of Israel hadsacrificed to the true God. But aftermany years of neglect, the altar theyhad used was almost completely brokendown.

The people watched as Elijah tooktwelve stones and repaired the ancientaltar. Each stone represented one of thetwelve tribes of Israel. Elijah then dug adeep trench completely around the altar.He laid wood under the altar. Next heprepared the sacrifice and placed it onthe altar. As the people watched, Elijahhad four barrels of water poured on thesacrifice and the wood.

Since water was so scarce, somepeople probably thought this was aterrible waste. The water ran around thealtar and filled up the trench, complete­ly soaking the sacrifice and the wood.Before Elijah stopped, however, he hadfour more barrels poured over thesacrifice. And then another four!

Elijah then stepped back and prayed.He did not dance, scream or cut himself.His prayer was short, but very earnest.

Copy Elijah's short prayer, found inI Kings 18:36-37, on the following lines.

As soon as Elijah concluded hisprayer, God answered. A fireballappeared high over Mount Carmel.Suddenly the fire fell and consumedthe burnt sacrifice. The fire alsoconsumed the wood and the stones ofthe altar and even the dust underneathit. The water in the trench wasinstantly dried up.

After the smoke cleared, the peoplesaw a black crater where the altar oncerested.

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A fireball from God totally consumed Elijah'ssacrifice, leaving only a blackened crater.

THE ETERNAL IS GOD!

In the minds of the people, there wasno question about who had won thecontest. They fell on their faces andcried out. "The Eternal, He is God! TheEternal, He is God!" they cried.

The people now understood that theprophets of Baal had been largelyresponsible for leading them into idolatry.

In Deuteronomy 13:1-4 God had toldthe Israelites not to follow those whowould teach them to worship false gods.Read these verses and summarize themon the following lines. _

The lesson for us today is that weshould follow leaders who serve the trueGod and who have been placed inpositions of authority by Him.

Now that the false prophets wereexposed, Elijah commanded that they be

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seized. "Don't let any of them escape,"he ordered the people.

Elijah was following God's instruc­tions, found in Deuteronomy 13:5, whichcommanded the people of Israel to killfalse prophets who attempted to leadthem into idolatry. Write out this verseon the following lines. _

The people obeyed and dragged all450 false prophets down the mountainand killed them near the BrookKishon.

AN ABUNDANCE OF RAIN

Elijah then turned his attention toAhab. Although Ahab was a wickedruler, God did not give Elijah theauthority to harm him. God would dealwith the king later in another way.

"It's time to get up and get away fromhere," Elijah said to Ahab. "Eat anddrink. A great amount of rain will sooncome!"

Ahab, sobered by what he had justwitnessed, obeyed. While he ate anddrank, Elijah went up to the top ofMount Carmel and prayed for rain.

Bowed low, with his face between hisknees, Elijah prayed fervently. He thensent his servant to look toward the seaand to report back if there were anysigns of cloudiness in the sky. Theservant returned a little while later andsaid, "There is nothing!"

The news didn't discourage Elijah,who continued to pray. Seven times

Omri

100 prophets

Who troubledIsrael

9. 12 stones

10.

11. Deuteronomy J.13:5 K.

12. Seventh trip L.

falling. Following Elijah's advice, heswiftly got into his chariot, and startedout across the plains toward the town ofJezreel, about twenty miles distant.

Elijah also headed toward the town ofJezreel, but by foot. With help from Godin the form of additional strength andspeed, Elijah outran Ahab's chariot allthe way to Jezreel, arriving there first!

Imagine a man outrunning a horse­drawn chariot for twenty miles! Thiswas another of the many fantasticmiracles God performed during Elijah'slifetime!

In the next lesson, we will learn moreabout what happened to the the nationsof Israel and Judah, and about manymiracles God performed through Hisservants the prophets.

Elijah's servant watched intently from the top ofMt. Carmel for any sign of rain.

more he sent the servant. Each time, butthe last, Elijah received the same news.No rain!

But the last time the servant said, "Isee a little cloud forming out over thesea. It has the shape of a man's hand."

"That's it!" Elijah thought. The cloudwas what he had expected. "Go to Ahabquickly," he told the servant, "and tellhim that the rain will fall very soon. Tellhim that it would be wise to leave thearea immediately so that his chariot willnot get bogged down in the mud thedownpour will create."

The small cloud rapidly grew largerand darker. Soon heavy rain cloudsroared and thundered.

Ahab realized that rain would soon be

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