Elijah enters the stage of history mysteriously, with little introduction and no fanfare. Immediately, the text presents him as a man of prayer. James, the half-brother of the Lord, explains that Elijah, despite being a man like the rest of us, was able to use his powerful prayers to start and end a drought (1 Kings 171; Jas. 5:17-18). In the same chapter, he fervently petitioned the Lord to resurrect a widow’s son from the dead, and God granted his request (1 Kings 17:21-22). His prayers were instrumental in defeating the prophets of Baal, leading to a short-lived revival in Northern Israel (18:36-39). The Bible assures every faithful Christian that they too have the privilege of praying prayers that can make a difference, just like the prophet. This prayer model is accessible to all (Jas. 5:16; Matt. 7:7; Heb. 4:16; 1 John 5:14). It’s important to note that Elijah’s actions were not just about the physical act of praying, but also about the faith he had in God’s power to answer those prayers.
Elijah was not just a man of prayer but also a man of remarkable courage and toughness (cf. 2 Kings 1:1-18). Wicked King Ahab desired to kill Elijah (1 Kings 18:9-14), yet the prophet fearlessly faced him and took on hundreds of the king’s wife’s false prophets, defeating and executing them (1 Kings 18:20-40). After Jezebel had the noble Naboth murdered to acquire his vineyard for her spineless husband, Ahab callously took possession of it to turn it into a vegetable garden. Elijah confronted him and prophesied of the king’s death and the fall of his house due to his wickedness (1 Kings 17:17-26). The strength of the prophet’s words caused the king to humble himself before God (1 Kings 17:27-29). The Bible teaches that God hasn’t given the Christian a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7). With the Lord’s help, the disciple can display the same courage and toughness Elijah did in any circumstance, inspiring us to face our own challenges with faith and determination.
Although strong and brave, Elijah was also compassionate and sensitive. He displayed his compassion by providing the faithful widow from Zarephath (cf. Luke 4:25-26) with daily necessities and by lovingly raising her son from the dead (1 Kings 17:8-24). He displayed sensitivity and vulnerability in his interaction with the Lord after Jezebel sought to kill him after his victory over her prophets on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 19:1-10). He opined that he alone served the Lord when, in fact, the Lord still had seven thousand faithfully following him. Elijah proves that it’s possible to display bravery and strength while still exhibiting compassion and sensitivity towards the things of God.
Finally, Elijah was a man who possessed great faith and trust in the Lord. The Lord ultimately used unclean birds and a helpless widow to care for Elijah, and the prophet trusted him (1 Kings 17:1-16). He exhibited faith in trust in God when he took on Jezebel’s prophets and admonished the people to serve only Yahweh (1 Kings 18:21). He showed great faith as he took on Ahab (1 Kings 18:18-19) and then later his son Ahaziah
(2 Kings 1:1ff). Because of his faith, rather than dying like men do (Heb. 9:27), God used a whirlwind to usher him into his presence (2 Kings 2:10-11). The faith of Elijah, like a chariot with its horseman, served as Israel’s strength (2 Kings 2:12-14). Those born again can also experience great victory through faith in Jesus (1 John 5:4) while at the same time strengthening those around them (Matt. 5:16).