I originally posted this on a blog I used to have about 4 or 5 years ago. I wrote a half dozen character studies over the course of several months and had a lot of fun doing it.
The sun, usually a welcome sight, maintained its merciless beat-down. Waves of scorching heat were palpable and visible as undulations in the breathless air. The parched land grew more parched, if possible, as the daylight hours lingered. No clouds. No relief. No shade.
If only Elijah weren’t such a man of God, we wouldn’t be dying in this drought. No crops. No grass for our livestock. Wells all run dry.
It’s been almost three years already. We can’t survive much longer.
A roughly-dressed prophet man, with wild hair and intense eyes. That was Elijah. An imposing figure when he appeared before you. The King listened when he spoke. But the King didn’t usually like what Elijah had to say. No matter, thought Elijah – I must speak what the Lord commands me to speak. Nothing more, nothing less.
Elijah lived in prayer, immersed himself in prayer. Petitioning and worshipping and listening. His power came at the Spirit’s desire and timing. Elijah’s power also came at great personal sacrifice – if you could call it that. Although he didn’t think of it that way. What is this life anyway, in view of forever?
Thick darkness, a darkness seen with his mind’s eye, and felt with this spirit. More like a suffocating black fog. He fought his way through it for a long time. The hours and days passed unknowingly as he wrestled mightily with an unseen but powerful force. He pleaded, he reminded, he worshipped, he held on tightly, refusing to let go. The words he shouted aloud with growing vehemence were flung back at him, striking deeper into his soul, as if a white hot blade were cutting him and laying bare his heart. So he increased his struggles, never giving way once he’d gained some ground. On and on the battle – for that is what it felt like – continued.
Finally the fog disintegrated, and a calmness stole over his soul. His mind and eyes were clear. He was ready. The training for his next task was complete.
450 prophets of Baal.
Mount Carmel.
Two altars.
Two sacrifices.
One Elijah.
Looking for fire from heaven to prove just whose god is God.
All 450 prophets of Baal prepared themselves, prepared their sacrifice, placed it on the altar, and began to cry out to their god to send fire down from heaven and consume their offering. Nothing happened. They cried out more loudly. Nothing. They began to cut themselves until the ground ran slippery with their blood, staining their white ceremonial robes crimson. Still nothing. Hour after hour they implored their god to answer and act.
No answer came. No acknowledgment. Nothing. Not even one streak of heat lightning.
The sun hovers low in the sky. Now it is Elijah’s turn. He walks around the area, searching for and locating twelve stones – one for each tribe of Israel – and fashions the altar. He prepares the sacrifice according to the law of Moses, and places it there.
“Bring water and pour it over the sacrifice”, Elijah instructs the servants. So they do. “More water”, says Elijah. And still more water. Until even the deeply dug trench around the altar is full and overflowing onto the thirsty ground.
A saturated sacrifice and a trench full of water.
Everyone knows water quenches fire. Everyone sees the impossibility.
Finally Elijah is ready.
Lifting up his hands and face to heaven, Elijah prays with authority. Every prophet of Baal and every onlooker waiting for something to happen, suddenly and simultaneously hear an explosive sound and stand spellbound as an overpowering conflagration falls straight down from heaven. The intensity of the heat and shock of the event knocks them back. The holy fire consumes the sacrifice and greedily laps up every. last. drop of water in the trench.
After the initial shock, pandemonium breaks out.
And then Elijah slaughters every. single. one of the 450 prophets of Baal. That’s right – he killed all 450 of them.
Justice is served.
The end. Roll credits.
Elijah, now, is bone-tired, covered in blood, reeking of death.
To top it off, Jezebel signs his death warrant when she discovers what he’s done. A queen’s solemn vow to make it her mission to see Elijah dead – dead – dead.
Obliterate him. Just like he did her prophets. Jezebel’s subjects had seen her angry many times before but this time – Elijah had better watch out.
This mighty man of God – this man who prayed and the rain stopped – this man who spoke and fire fell – began to shake with fear and took off running as fast as his wobbly legs would carry him. He ran for a full day before collapsing from fatigue.
This is the point in the story where your brain makes you stop and pause and ask a question. Why was Elijah, of all people, afraid of Jezebel? We all read the same words she said. What happened? After what he had just accomplished – what in God’s name happened to make him quake in terror and run for his life?
Inexplicable, right?
The Spirit had shown up in great power, with Elijah as the conduit. Elijah was prepared. He had gotten the victory in his fight against evil and for good.
So, let’s take a moment and think. What happens when we use up the last of our physical resources – emotional and physical exhaustion. I know for me, when I’m overly tired and emotionally drained, that’s when I’m at my most vulnerable.
And that’s when Satan moves in, quick as lightning, for the kill. He’s been lying low in the brush until now, tail impatiently swishing back and forth, flexing his paws, watching, watching. Waiting for just the perfect time, and then – pounce.
But God – nourished Elijah and protected him. Fed him. Then sent him on another journey.
Elijah is so far above us spiritually, or so we tell ourselves, we would give up before we even started. We could never do anything like what he did.
But the Apostle James gives us encouragement. He tells us Elijah was just like we are. So that means we can be just like him. Used just like him.
It will take time, effort, and pain. You’ll become exhausted after wrestling with God. Scars from battle. Increased attacks from Satan. Uncomprehending family and friends.
God’s power and desire to use us is only hindered by our lack of commitment and desire to be used. We have great power available to us – let’s maximize that power and so maximize our influence.
There’s work to do for the kingdom. Time to get on with it.
