Elijah! Why he is called, Firey, and extremely powerful? His witness and his prophecy. His ascending to Heaven.
Introduction
After the death of King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel has been divided into, two kingdoms, the Northern is Israel and the Southern is Judah.
The Northern was led by Jeroboam who established two centers for worshipping in Dan and in Bethel and he made two golden calves.
Then a successive wicked Kings ruled Israel and the peak aroused when Ahab reigned Israel and married Jezebel who put in her heart to destroy the worship of God.
At this milestone God sent a wonderful Prophet witnessing for him and working for the Deliverance of his brothers who is Elijah the Tishbite.
As, the Devil prepared Ahab and Jezebel to spread the soul of corruption, God prepared Elijah to witness for Him and working for the account of His Kingdom.
There were no brave kings challenged God as Ahab but there were no brave prophets as Elijah.
His resume started powerfully supported by God with marvelous miracles and continued shiny with the spirit of brightness and power.
He is the only among all the Prophets who joined with Enoch in rising to heaven in a chariot and joined with Moses in the event of the Transfiguration on the Mount of Tabor.
The Drought
“And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “(1 KINGS 17:1)
“As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”(1 KINGS 17:1)
Elijah is a Hebrew word means My God is God, as if he witnesses with his name, that he will worship no other but God, His God.
He sent him to return the people to Him and to work with Him.
The Tishbite means, the stranger, so, his resume remains to confirm, not to search for the family of man or his ancestors rather for, his person, life, and actions.
So, Elijah here did not talk to Ahab in secret but, rather, publicly for that, the wickedness reached all the people who, needed a strong call to return to God.
And that God is alive not inanimate, and that he is the servant of the living God who stands before Him continuously.
Here, Prophet Elijah asserted the importance of the prayer and its possibility to close the doors of the heaven for three and half months.
Also, this asserts the threatening made previously by God; the drought for those who ignore God and disobey Him.
“Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith.”” (1 KINGS 17:2-3)
Then by the Order of God, he hid till the period of the Wrath of God is to be ended, but not for protecting him, but rather to give both of them and the people the chance to repent.
“The raven brought him bread and meat in the morning, and meat and bread in the evening, and he drank from the brook.” (1 KINGS 17:6)
The raven is impure bird in the view of the Jews, and they cannot eat from it, but Elijah surpasses the letter as a food presented to him by God.
The raven was presenting the food to Elijah, was eating insects, denoting to the religious who presents the Word of God but still lives distant from Him.
By the Order of God, Elijah isolated from the deviated people to deal with raven that serves him.
So, is the sin loses man his relationship with God and His men but the unsensible birds and animals, are, glorifying God, and serving his sons.
“And it happened after that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.” (1 KINGS 17:7)
It came to pass in a certain time; the rivers of the world, had been dried up. Since nature with all of its possibilities has a limit to be stopped.
So, as to Elijah, the rivers of the world may dry but the mercies of God do not and cannot fail to saturate the souls.
“Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,” (1KINGS17:8)
“Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”(1KINGS17:9)
Hence, the Lord did not send him to any Jewish widow, rather to a widow of nations, who denotes to the Church, as the raven does too.
Also, Sidon, is the town from which Jezebel came from and pushed the people in oppression to worshipping the Baal. In the same town it was found a faithful woman.
” So, he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks.” (1KINGS17:10)
“And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup that I may drink.”(1KINGS17:10)
“And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”” (1KINGS17:11)
“So, she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin and a little oil in a jar;” (1KINGS17:12)
and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”(1KINGS17:12)
It seems that the famine has extended to the worldwide not only the land of Israel, hence, it may be that the corruption of Israel impacted the neighboring countries.
The Spiritual, lights joyfulness to all surrounding him, while the wicked drags many toward corruption.
The couple of sticks denote to the Cross of Jesus, as if she wanted to know the secret of the Cross.
“And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first,””(1KINGS17:13)
“And bring it to me and afterward make some for yourself and your son.”(1KINGS17:13)
“For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘the bin of flour do not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ “(1KINGS17:14)
“So, she went away and did according to the word of Elijah.” (1KINGS17:15)
So, she responded without doubt. She did not complain of the toughness of life and what prevailed in the city by the famine.
Only she delivered her life by the soul of satisfaction on the hands of God.
“The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.” (1KINGS17:16)
So, the drought made the barrels of the rich empty, but the jar of oil of the woman overflew in plenty.
“Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick.” (1KINGS 17:17)
“And the sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him.”(1KINGS 17:17)
But why God permitted for the death of her son? This woman enjoyed with the first miracle written in the Holy Bible which is blessing the food abundantly. Also, she enjoyed counting for Elijah; the great in prophets.
So, God permitted for such experiment as a myrrh thorn takes off the pride from her and fixing up her life in the LORD.
“So, she said to Elijah. “What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?” ” (1KINGS 17:18)
“Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, have you also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?” (1KINGS17:20)
“And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.”(1KINGS17:21)
But why Elijah stretched out on the child? We would not enjoy the arising new life if we did not have a touch from the arising from death.
“Then the lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came back to him and he revived.” (1KINGS17:22)
“And it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.” ” (1KINGS 18:1)
“For so it was. while Jezebel massacred, the prophets of the Lord, that Obediah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them.” (1KINGS 18:4)
“Now as Obediah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him, and he recognized him.” (1KINGS 18:7)
“So, Obediah went to meet Ahab and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.” (1KINGS18:16)
“Then it happened when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him. “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” ” (1KINGS 18:17)
“And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have,” ” (1KINGS18:18)
“In that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed Baals.”(1KINGS18:18)
“Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, ” (1KINGS 18:19)
“and the four hundred prophets of Asherah.”(1KINGS 18:19)
“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions.”(1KINGS18:21)
“If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.” ” (1KINGS18:21)
“Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.” (1KINGS 18:22)
“Therefore, let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut in pieces, and lay it on the wood.”(1KINGS 18:23)
“but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it.”(1KINGS 18:23)
“Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” (1KINGS18:24)
“Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, choose one bull and call in the name of your god” (1KINGS18:25)
“So, they took the bull and called on the name of Baal from evening even till noon.”(1KINGS18:26)
“But there was no voice. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.”(1KINGS18:26)
“And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said,” (1KINGS18:27)
“But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.”(1KINGS18:29)
“Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”(1KINGS18:29)
“Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So, all the people came near to him. And he prepared the altar of the Lord that was broken down.” (1KINGS18:30)
“And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob. “(1KINGS18:31)
“to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”(1KINGS18:31)
“And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said,” (1KINGS18:33)
“Fil four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.”(1KINGS18:33)
” Then he said, “Do it a second time.”, “Do it a third time,” and they did a third time.”(1KINGS18:34)
“And it came to pass, at the time of offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said,” (1KINGS18:36)
“Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am your servant. and that I have done all these things at Your Word.”(1KINGS18:36)
“Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.” (1KINGS18:38)
“Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God!”. (1KINGS18:39)
“And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” (1KINGS18:40)
“So, they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.”(1KINGS18:40)
The Rain
“Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” (1KINGS 18:41)
“So, Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of the Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,”(1KINGS 18:42)
“And said to his servant. “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So, he went up and looked, and said, ‘There’s nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go, again.”(1KINGS 18:43)
” Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There’s a cloud, as small as, a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” (1KINGS18:44)
“So, he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ (1KINGS18:44)
” Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain.”(1KINGS18:45)
His Escape
“And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. ” (1KINGS19:1)
“Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So, let the gods do to me, and more also,”(1KINGS19:2)
“If I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”(1KINGS19:2)
“And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.” (1KINGS19:3)
“But he went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die.” (IKUNGS19:4)
“And said, “It is enough! Now LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” (1KINGS19:4)
“Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Then he looked and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So, he ate and drank and lay down again.(1KINGS19:5-6)
“And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat because the journey is too great for you.”(1KINGS19:7)
“So, he arose and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.” (1KINGS19:8)
“And there he went into a cave, and behold the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”(1KINGS19:9)
“So, he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”” (1KINGS19:10)
God 's Revelation to Him
“Then He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; and after the earthquake, a fire but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a small voice.”(1KINGS19:11-12)
“Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, ‘What are you doing here Elijah?”. And he said, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts. Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.” (1KINGS19:13,14,15)
“Yet, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (1KINGS19:18)
“So, he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him.” (1kings19:19)
“And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please, let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” ” (1KINGS19:20)
“Then he arose and followed Elijah and became his servant.” (1kings19:21)
“”Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice and was injured; so, he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, whether I shall recover from this injury.” (2KINGS1:2)
“But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers and say to them, ‘ is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ ” (2kings1:3)
“”Now therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not come down from the bed, but you shall surely die'” (2KINGS1:4)
“So Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken.” (2KINGS1:17)
Elijah Ascends to Heaven
“And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.” (2KINGS2:1)
“Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” (2KINGS2:6)
“But he said, “As the lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So, the two of them went on.” (2KINGS2:6)
“And so it was, when they had crossed over; that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! what may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” ” (2KINGS2:9)
“So, he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” “(2KINGS2:10)
“Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”(2KINGS2:11)
“And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So, he saw him no more.” (2KINGS2:12)
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” (MALACHI4:5)
“And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (MALACHI4:6)
Source is THE HOLY BIBLE NKJV. Arabic New Van Dyck text C. The Bible Society of Egypt. Fifth Edition Third print2019.ISBN 978-1-84364-188-9. Printed in China.
Reference: 1 KINGS book and 2 KINGS book for Egyptian priest Father Tadros Jakob.
Edited by Tawfik, S. (2026). Elijah, the Firey and Extremely Powerful Prophet. www.orthodox-beliefs.site
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