Alone

Season 1 Episode 36

³Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my fathers.” ⁵Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.

Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” ⁶Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. ⁷Then the angel of the Lord returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” ⁸So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. ⁹He entered a cave there and spent the night. 1 Kings 19:3-9 CSB

Is it true that you should never be "alone" in your walk as a Christian? Several people have suggested just that, but I think it's a lot more nuanced than that. In fact I think at times you have to stand alone to grow your faith. Let's talk about how alone time builds your relationship with God and the Biblical basis for it.

References and Footnotes

Moses at Mt. Sinai - Exodus 19

Elijah alone in the wilderness - 1 Kings 19:1-9

Messiah alone in the wilderness - Matthew 4

2 Kings 21-23: Manasseh & Josiah

These chapters follow the evil king Manasseh and the Godly king Josiah. The difference in their leadership is not only a testimony of what God expects from us, but also a testimony that our fate is not bound to those who raise us. We are free to choose (or reject) God regardless of our parentage.

Introduction

Manasseh (not to be confused with the son of Joseph), was one of the worst kings in the history of Judah, but his grandson Josiah was one of the best. The difference in their leadership is not only a testimony of what God expects from us, but also a testimony that our fate is not bound to those who raise us. We are free to choose (or reject) God regardless of our parentage.
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Manasseh Takes the Throne

After the wonderful leadership of Hezekiah, Judah falls to poor leadership once again in Hezekiah's son Manasseh, followed by his grandson Amon. Both kings stray from Hezekiah's Godly leadership.

Manasseh's sin are so great they are actually listed out. From pagan worship and idolatry to dealing with witchcraft and enchantments, Manasseh does much to incite God's wrath. In these sins, Manasseh leads Israel to do the same. He rebuilds the pagan altars and illegal altars for God, allowing the Israelites to return to their old habits. Manasseh is also a violent king as he is described as filling Jerusalem with innocent blood. Surprisingly, God allows him to reign for 55 years. However his reign is the tipping point for God's people in Judah. In 2 Kings 23:26 and 2 Kings 24:3, the blame for Israel's punishment falls on the sins that took place during Manasseh's rule.

When Manasseh dies, his son Amon picks up where he left off. Amon is just as evil as his father and continues to lead Israel down a sinful path. During Amon's reign, his servants rise up against him. Thus Amon on reigns for two years before he is assassinated. The people punish those who conspired against Amon and place his son Josiah on the throne. Unlike the northern kingdom, where assassinators often took the throne after successfully killing the king, the scepter never leaves the House of David in Judah (Genesis 49:10).
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Josiah

Josiah is placed on the throne at a very young age, like King Jehoash (also spelled Joash); he is only 8 when takes over the throne. Josiah reigns for 31 years and brings Godliness back to the throne. I find it interesting that Josiah takes up where his great grandfather left off despite having an ungodly father and grandfather. Josiah would never have met Hezekiah. This proves that though our parents may shape our views on God based on how they raise us, they aren't the ultimate factor in our relationship with God. Josiah was able to find his way to God despite the bad examples around him. The Bible doesn't tell us if this came from the influence of advisors, priests, or a call from God Himself, but it does show us that we aren't lost just because our parents are.
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Fix the Temple

Once again, the Temple needs repairs. Since the Israelites had been using the wealth of the Temple to pay off enemies, it isn't surprising that it was deteriorating. While ungodly kings would have prioritized their resources elsewhere, Josiah orders that the money in the Temple be used to pay workers for repairs to the Temple. When the scribe speaks with the priest, he learns that they have found the book of law (i.e. the books of Moses).
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The Book of Law

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Pellinni

It is unclear at what point the Israelites stopped using the Book of Law, but God had instructed them to read the law aloud every year and apparently they had not been doing so. Scholars believe that the actual book of law had not been lost but had been hid from idolatrous kings. Likely some of the law had been preserved in the nation while other parts had been lost, and the reopening of the book shed light on this fact.^[5]

When Josiah reads the book, he humbles himself before the LORD and makes haste to get Israel on the right track. Josiah knows that God must be angry at them for forsaking the laws, so they consult a prophetess of the Lord to hear God's thoughts. Note that this is proof a woman can receive messages from God.

God shows mercy towards Josiah because he has heeded God's Word. Josiah had been doing his best, but was ignorant of parts of God's law. When he learned the truth he was quick to restructure his life to please God. For this, God promised that judgment and destruction would not come during Josiah's lifetime. We should remember this example. When we don't know any better, God is not pleased, but he is not as angry as He would be had we known we were in the wrong. Once we learn the truth, however, it is up to us to align ourselves with God.

Josiah has the law read to the people and the nation is quick to renew their covenant with God. It isn't just enough to say the words, however. We see a real change in Josiah's heart as he works to rid Judah of ungodliness. Josiah disbands pagan priests, defiles illegal altars, and evicts the sodomites. When we truly come to God, our actions will mirror the confession we've made with out heart.
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Cleansing the Nation

Josiah doesn't stop at cleansing Judah; he travels into the northern kingdom's territory and begins to cleanse cities there as well. He defiles the pagan altars there with human remains. While doing this, he discovers that a prophet had already prophesied these actions. Recognizing the holiness of such a person, Josiah orders that the prophet's bones not be disturbed.

A major difference in Josiah's handling of this cleansing and the cleansing that occurred in the northern kingdom under Elijah is the lack of slaughter. Josiah recognized that the people had been led astray and that was as much the fault of leadership as it was their own doing. Instead of killing everyone, Josiah works to bring everyone back to God. Similarly, when we proclaim the word of God, we should be careful not to push people away with harsh judgments. Elijah was a great leader, and while God did not condemn Elijah's act of murdering pagan priests, Elijah himself felt bad. God did not create us to delight in tearing others down. Our primary mission is to bring others to God in love.
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The Name Josiah

Josiah is also a popular name in the US today; it ranks at #57 in popularity, which means you probably know at least 1 person named Josiah. The name means "YHWH supports."^[1] Famous Josiah's of today include R&B singer Josiah Bell, and reality TV star Josiah Duggar.^[2][3] Minister and activist Josiah Henson was also named for the Biblical king.^[4]
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More Bad Kings

God was pleased with Josiah's actions, but Judah still had to be punished for the actions it had taken up until that point. Each action we take has consequences, and although God may forgive us, that doesn't mean we won't endure those consequences. Israel never fully repented and those tribes were scattered forever. Judah, on the other hand, was able to regroup after their exile. It is also likely that the people of Israel did not share the same zeal Josiah did. This would explain why they were so easily swayed back to idolatry under the next set of kings. God knew that the hearts of the people where still drenched in idolatry.
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Jehoahaz

Josiah dies in battle with Egypt and his son Jehoahaz is crowned king (there had previously been a king named Jehoahaz in the northern kingdom, as well). Jehoahaz takes the throne when he is 23, but only reigns for 3 months. Unlike Josiah, he does evil. He is captured by the pharaoh of Egypt and forced to pay tribute. The king of Egypt places Jehoahaz's brother Eliakim on the throne and renames him Jehoiakim.

Jehoiakim / Eliakim

Jehoiakim was actually the elder brother and begins his reign at the age of 25. It is unclear why he wasn't made king first. Although the pharaoh allowed Jehoiakim to take the throne, he was still only a vassal king and forced to pay tribute to Egypt. Josiah's son's were clearly unable to hold on to the zeal Josiah had introduced for following God. Nonetheless, Jehoiakim reigns for 11 years.
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References

1. Mike Campbell. "Josiah". Behind the Name. 1996
2. LeeAnn Chisolm. "5 Reasons to Fall in Love with Josiah Bell". Blavity. October 2016
3. "19 Kids and Counting". Wikipedia; visited February 2017
4. Biography.com Editors. "Josiah Henson". Bio. April 13, 2016
5. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible, pg. 674. 2014

2 Kings 2: Elisha Succeeds Elijah

Elijah's grand translation from Earth to Heaven.

Introduction

At the end of his career, Elijah is taken to Heaven in a whirlwind. He is one of the people who never experiences death, but goes straight to Heaven. This is perhaps the thing Elijah is most well known for. 2 Kings 2 tells us of Elisha's loyalty to Elijah and his desire to carry on Elijah's mantle.
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Elisha Follows Elijah

Just before Elijah is taken up to Heaven, he asks Elisha to stay in Gilgal while he handles business in Bethel, but Elisha insists on joining him. In Bethel the prophets ask Elisha if he is aware of what is happening and he reveals that he is. This means most prophets must have known that God had decided to receive Elijah into Heaven some time soon.

Once again Elijah says he must go somewhere (Jericho), and Elisha refuses to stay behind. In Jericho these events play out once again, and the two leave for Jordan.
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Parting the Jordan River

At the Jordan River, Elijah parts the water to walk across as prophets watch in awe. Previously, Moses had called on God to part the Red Sea when Israel fled Egypt, and Joshua had called on God to part the Jordan when Israel entered the promised land. The parting of the Jordan by Elijah, and later Elisha, also marks an important time for Israel. These are the moments of revival where God poured out his spirit on the prophets to bring the people back to Him, just before Israel was taken captive.
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Elisha Named Heir

Knowing that his time of departure is nearing, Elijah asks what Elisha would like of him before he departs and Elisha requests a double portion of Elijah's spirit. From Deuteronomy 21:16-17, we can see that Elisha is asking to be recognized as the legitimate heir. In families, the firstborn, who was heir to the family inheritance, always received a double portion. By asking for this, Elisha was announcing that he wanted to be the next great prophet in Israel and fill Elijah's role. God had already chosen Elisha for this purpose, but Elisha still had to put in the work to receive this appointment. Elijah says that what Elisha is asking for is a hard thing, but promises that if Elisha is there to see him leave, his request will be granted. This request was hard, despite being foretold and ordained by God; just because God says that something will happen, doesn't mean it will be easy. Taking over as the prophet, especially at such a time of turmoil in Israel was a big responsibility; one needed to prove himself worthy of such a position before hastily taking over.
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Elijah Taken Up

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Jon Wisbey

Elijah's ride to Heaven is a chariot of fire pulled by horses of fire. This sounds like how they would depict a carriage taking you to hell in Hollywood, which is a reminder of how warped our view of things is. God is often depicted with fire; He even appeared to Moses as a burning bush. We must be careful not to let man's art and imagery taint our eyesight. If we fall into that trap, we will not recognize God when He comes to us. Since Elijah was in tune with God, he knew this was his ride to Heaven and that it was safe.

Despite the prestige and undeniable closure that came with seeing Elijah ascend to Heaven, Elisha still goes into mourning after seeing this. On the journey back (assumably to Samaria), Elisha takes up Elijah's mantle which signified him as Elijah's heir. He asks for the God Elijah served to part the waters of the Jordan again, and God obliges. This convinces onlooking prophets that the spirit of Elijah was in Elisha and that Elisha was the new prophet of Israel.

These same men, who were said to be prophets, pestered Elisha to look for Elijah, thinking God had betrayed him. While a believer should know that God would never betray us, it stands to reason that with all the corruption that was happening in Israel, the prophets were skeptical. Initially Elisha stands firm that God would do no such thing, but the men pester him until he is ashamed and gives in. Needless to say, they don't find Elijah.
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Elisha's First Miracle

While in Jericho, Elisha learns there is something wrong with the water. Because of the water, the land is barren and the people are in despair. Elisha heals the water in the name of God so that death and famine will retreat from the city.
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Punishing Children

Elisha continues into Bethel where he is mocked by children. Elisha curses them and two female bears attack them. From there, Elisha then returns to Samaria. This sounds rather horrifying, particular since in our society we generally give children a pass for not knowing any better. While I do think the Bible expects us to discipline children so that they do not behave in such a manner, this passage maybe not be discussing children at all.^[1] The word translated children is often used to refer to grown men as well. The Hebrew words translated to little and children in 2 Kings 2:23-24 are qatan, na’ar, and yeled^[2] Qatan means "least," which doesn't necessarily refer to a child.^[3] Least simply means without honor, clout, or authority. Na'ar is a masculine noun most often translated to "young man." Servant is the next most-popular translation of the word.^[4] Yeled is the only word that is often translated to child, though it's definition seems to mean offspring.^[5] In short, the people Elisha had attacked by the bear, were not likely to be children. A great article on this topic can be found here
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References

1. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible, pg. 633. 2014
2. Elizabeth Mitchell, PhD. "Elisha, Little Children, and the Bears". Answers in Genesis. November 2010
3. "Strong's 6996: Qatan"; via BibleHub.com; visited February 2017
4. "Strong's H5288: Na'ar"; via BlueLetterBible.org; visited February 2017
5. "Strong's H3206: Yeled"; via BlueLetterBible.org; visited February 2017

1 Kings 21: Jezebel Executes Naboth

1 Kings 21 shows us the true treachery of Queen Jezebel--she is probably the source of the phrase "I'd kill for it."

Introduction

1 Kings 21 tells the story of ruthlessness in the pursuit of furthering our own goals. A lot of times when people who have power want something, they refuse to take no for an answer. This chapter is a perfect example of how situations can get out of hand. People often think that because they've made a reasonable request, the people around them are obliged to follow. A common arena for this today is in how men approach women. Often, I've seen men who believe that simply because they are a nice guy the girl didn't have a right to refuse a date with him. This misconception isn't limited to men. In this chapter, we see that Jezebel devises a murderous plot to get her husband something he has been denied. Just because you want something and ask for it nicely does not mean you should receive it.
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Naboth

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/adyna

A man named Naboth owned a vineyard in Jezreel which was near the palace of king Ahab. This must have been a well kept and prosperous vineyard because king Ahab desired it for himself. Even though Ahab was considered a corrupt king, he took the proper steps in his attempt to acquire the land; he offered to give Naboth a better vineyard elsewhere or to pay money for the land. Both options seem fair, but, Naboth was unwilling to part with the land. Naboth informs Ahab that the vineyard is his inheritance from his fathers and he won't part with it.

I understand the sentiment of Naboth because like Naboth, I would never sell my family's "farm." My grandparents purchased a sizable amount of land during in the Jim Crow South, which is no small feat for a black couple—let alone a black couple with little to no formal education. My grandfather was a farmer and my grandmother was a cook, but they managed to buy more land than all of their children, somehow (probably from desire). They worked hard and I respect that. That land meant a lot to them; I saw it in my grandmother's eyes during the housing boom when companies were doing everything they could to find a way to take it. In circumstances like this, money and "better" become obsolete. You can't replace the memories or the sentiment of the land. I'm sure Naboth had a similar connection to his vineyard.
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Ahab's Reaction

King Ahab didn't understand this; which is understandable for a king. If you've ever seen Disney's The Emperor's New Groove, you can easily see this unfolding. In the movie, the emperor was a spoiled brat who wanted to build a vacation spot where another family lived. He didn't care about the peasants who had sentimental and monetary ties to that land, he just wanted what he wanted. Ahab was a little better, but still quite similar.

From Ahab's point of view, he'd made a reasonable request. After all, he'd offered to pay or to find him a better vineyard. The sentiment that builds from hard work was probably lost on a king who had lived his entire life as royalty. Ahab resorts to sulking and refuses to eat. He also complains to his wife, Jezebel.
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Jezebel's Revenge

A lot of times when we see things we want, we jokingly use the phrase "I'd kill for it." Jezebel took that phrase to heart and orchestrates a plot to have Naboth killed so her husband could have the vineyard. Ahab was king of the land, it was definitely possible for them to find another plot of land or another vineyard. Ahab even stated in part of his offer that he would find a vineyard for Naboth. Her actions prove that she had a lot of malice in her heart and was selfish in nature, thought fiercely loyal to her husband.

Jezebel contacts the elders of the city and asks them to find people to bear false witness against Naboth. In the midst of exalting Naboth's righteousness these witnesses were to proclaim that Naboth was guilt of blasphemy. Not only does Jezebel have him framed for blasphemy, which bore the death penalty, Jezebel places the decree in the king's name and with his seal. To Israel's knowledge, it is Ahab who orders Naboth's death.

When the elders of the city notify the king's people that Naboth is dead, Jezebel urges Ahab to take advantage of the situation and take charge of the property. Ahab doesn't condemn his wife for this action. The fact that he goes to take possession of the property just as she suggestion implies that he thought it was a great idea. It is also possible that he did not know of his wife's treachery. This is precisely why we are not follow people blindly.
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Judgment

God sends his judgment on the events to the prophet Elijah. His judgment comes with an ominous message foretelling of Ahab's untimely death. When Elijah shows up, Ahab already considers Elijah his enemy; what he doesn't seem to process is that by making himself an enemy of God's people, he has made himself an enemy of God. The only reason he and Elijah were enemies was because Ahab was an enemy of God in the first place. Elijah was simply delivering the messages he received.

This is something to remember as you look at who is against you in life. Is it the world who is against you or a representative of God? You should hope it is the world that is against you, that means you're probably on God's side.

When Elijah lays out Ahab's crimes and his coming punishment, Ahab humbles himself before God. He tears his clothes, fasts, and puts on sackcloth, to show his humility. Because of this, God postpones his judgment for the next generation. Sometimes it takes an external person telling us about ourselves to truly see how far from God we've drifted.
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References

1 Kings 20: The Syrian War

1 Kings 20 tells us about the beginning of a war between Syria and the northern kingdom. As we saw in the previous chapter, God was setting up a revival of the nation through Elijah, Elisha, Hazael, and Jehu, but in order to accomplish this, Benhadad, the current king of Syria, had to be dealt with.

Introduction

1 Kings 20 tells us about the beginning of a war between Syria and the northern kingdom. Despite Ahab's idolatry and difficulty leading the nation, God steps in to save Israel from defeat. As we saw in the previous chapter, God was setting up a revival of the nation through Elijah, Elisha, Hazael, and Jehu, but in order to accomplish this, Benhadad, the current king of Syria, had to be dealt with.
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Syria Attacks Israel

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Jon Wisbey

Before Elijah anoints Hazael, God's choice for king of Syria, the king of Syria is Benhadad. Benhadad attacks Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom, with a vengeance. Victorious, he tells Israel to surrender and lays claim to their wealth, wives, and children. King Ahab initially agrees, but recants after consulting with the elders. It seems odd to agree before consulting with anyone, but it seems odder still to consult someone after the decision has been made. Nonetheless, this fits the character of Ahab who has already proven to be a terrible king. Willing to put up a fight, the elders tell Ahab not to consent to Benhadad's request. When Ahab sends messengers to refuse the king, Benhadad's reaction is violent. If he hadn't been trying to start a war, he was now; Benhadad sends an entire an army against Israel.
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Prophesied Victory

An unnamed prophet comes to Ahab to tell him that God has said Israel would be victorious. We know this prophet isn't Elijah, because Elijah was in hiding and Jezebel, Ahab's wife, wanted him dead. Given that prophets of the true God were in short supply in the northern kingdom, it makes me curious as to who the prophet actually was. At this point in time, we don't know if Ahab knows who Elisha is or that Elisha is working with Elijah, so it is possible the prophet is Elijah. It is also possible that this prophet was a an ordinary person suddenly moved by God to further His Will. We must also consider that this prophet is actually pagan (like Balaam), since it seems unlikely that Ahab would consult a real prophet.
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First Battle

Israel is able to assemble an army of 7000 men, led by 232 princes of the tribes. I find it interesting that the number of men in the army matches the number of men God tells Elijah He still has in Israel in 1 Kings 19. Assured the victory, according to the prophet, Israel attacks at noon, to find Benhadad and his 32 kings were drunk. The 32 kings of Benhadad were likely leaders of tributary nations (i.e., nations that had fallen to Syria).^[1]

Needless to say, this a surprise to the Syrian army. Benhadad commands his men to take the Israelites alive regardless of their intentions. This was probably a hard command to follow, considering the leadership was drunk; perhaps some of the soldiers were too. Weapons and units were likely not in place or set for battle. Instead of being taken captive, the Israelites kill most of the army and force them to retreat. Careful not to give them the opportunity to regroup, Israel pursues the army and Benhadad as they retreat. The battle is described as a great slaughter with even horses being killed as Israel destroyed the army's weaponry. After proving a miraculous victory at His hand, God has the prophet return to inform Ahab that the Syrians would be back at the beginning of the next year.
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Preparation

Benhadad believed that like him, Israel had multiple gods and that their gods were tethered to Earthly objects. In this case, he figured God was a god of the hills and attributed his loss to the location of the battle. Following this thought, Ben-hadad assumed he would have better success fighting them in the plains. What he didn't know was that the God of Israel is the God of the world, He is not confined to a particular location.

Following his own flawed logic, however, Benhadad gives the order to rebuild the army. As God told Ahab, at the beginning of the next year, Benhadad was ready to fight against Israel once again. Since the army was just as large as the previous army, Israel was still out numbered.
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Second Battle

Ahab wasn't a good king, but God had pledged His loyalty to the people of Israel long before the nation even existed. Each time He pledged His allegiance, He reminded them that they would drift away but that He would still be there when they returned. When Benhadad relegated God to a particular location, He provoked God to once again come to Israel's rescue whether they repented or not.

God tells the Israelites that He will prove the Syrians wrong in their assessment that He was not God of the valleys. To do this, Israel had to be successful in battle. The two armies set up camp in the valley and the battle begins 7 days later. The Israelites were able to kill 100,000 of Syria's soldiers that very day. Assuming Israel was still fighting with an army of 7,000, this means that on average, each Israelite killed 14 or 15 people.

Many of the soldiers who weren't killed fled to the nearby city of Aphek. While there a wall falls on them, killing the 27,000 men that were left. Can you imagine? You barely escaped from the battle only to be flattened by a wall! We know that God had a hand in this because what are the odds of something like this happening? Benhadad was probably just realizing how wrong he was about God. Deserting his men, Benhadad flees.
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Covenant

Benhadad's servants suggest he should broker a treaty because Israel has merciful kings. The servants were right because Ahab makes a covenant with Benhadad, after Benhadad pleads for his life under the guise of being his brother. In the covenant, Benhadad promises to restore cities to Israel that his father had taken previously. Benhadad also gives Israel trading privileges in Syria.
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God Rebukes Ahab

While it may have been merciful, and perhaps even prudent for Ahab to agree to the covenant, God did not authorize this covenant. Ahab had been ordered to kill Benhadad and he had failed.

A prophet is sent to Ahab to send a message. Interestingly, he asks a stranger to "smite" him (meaning injure) and the stranger refuses. When the stranger refuses to assist the prophet's mission, God smites the stranger! A second stranger obliges the prophet who gains an audience with the king by way of his injury. Disguised with ashes, he presents a scenario which represents Ahab's disobedience. Eventually, he condemns Ahab for letting Benhadad go when God had commanded his destruction.
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References

1. Jamieson Fausset Brown. "1 Kings 20 Commentary", via BibleHub.com; visited January 2017

1 Kings 17-19: Elijah, Ahab & Jezebel

1 Kings 17-20 takes a break from a series of brief records which introduces many kings to focus on God's prophet, Elijah who lived during King Ahab's reign in the northern kingdom.

Introduction

1 Kings 17-20 takes a break from a series of brief records which introduces many kings to focus on God's prophet, Elijah who lived during King Ahab's reign in the northern kingdom. King Ahab marries the infamous Phoenician, princess Jezebel, and is often at odds with Elijah. While Ahab is definitely a familiar name, I would say that during my tenure in the church and over the course of my studies, Jezebel and Elijah have gotten more focus from the church. Ahab seems to fade into the background as a secondary character, but I think that's something worth discussing as well. In this post, I'll talk about all 3 people.
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Elijah, the Prophet

Outside of Daniel and Isaiah, Elijah might be one of the most well-known prophets of Israel. He performed amazing miracles and became the second person in human history to join God without ever dying (covered in 2 Kings).
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Was Elijah Even An Israelite?

When we are introduced to Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1, we are not told what Elijah's tribal affiliation is, but that he was a "Tishbite" and an inhabitant of Gilead. Gilead was located East of the Jordan, an spanned across the territories of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh.^[1] While it doesn't definitely prove that Elijah was a member of one of these tribes, it definitely increases the possibility. You may be surprised to know, there's actually a debate about whether Elijah was even an Israelite at all.^[2][3][4]

Unlike most important figures of the Bible, we aren't told a single thing about Elijah's ancestry. Up until this point, most people we meet are identified by tribe and/or father. When we meet Elijah's apprentice, Elisha, in 1 Kings 19, we are promptly told who his father is. For the kings, we are told who their father is and many times who their mother is as well. Samuel and Nathan's parentage are also given. This is not the case with Elijah. When you combine this information with the fact that the word inhabitant in 1 Kings 17:1 is translated from the word towshab, which means "sojourner, stranger or foreigner,"^[5] it becomes pretty suspicious. 1 Kings 17:1 is the only place the word is rendered "inhabitant" instead of stranger or foreigner. If translated as the rest of the occurrences, 1 Kings 17:1 would have said Elijah was a stranger in in Gilead, i.e. a Gentile who had made his home in Israel. ^[2][3]

Other scholars are adamant that Elijah was an Israel. They point out the fact that it is possible that "Tishbite" is a reference to a family line, negating the claim that we have no familial information on Elijah. Further, they point to Elijah name, which is of Hebrew origin and means "He is my Yah (God)."^[4] Some believe Elijah is the same Eliah mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:27, and thus a Benjamite.^[6]

What makes it hard to gauge which argument is correct is the fact that both arguments suffer from faulty premises.

Those who believe Elijah must be a Gentile base the assumption almost solely on the word towshab in 1 Kings 17:1. While foreigner and stranger generally apply to non-Israelites, does sojourner? If Elijah is Eliah and a Benjamite via 1 Chronicles 8:27, He would originally have been from the southern kingdom and an outsider in another tribe's lands. The other complaint given is that Elijah doesn't follow Jewish law; he believes God can be worshipped anywhere and never makes an effort to go to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. Elijah's assumption that he can worship anywhere doesn't have to be of foreign influence, however. The kings of Israel had already began putting this idea in their citizens' minds to keep them from returning to the southern kingdom. Besides, most of the Israelites weren't following the law themselves, how does that prove he was a Gentile?

Those who are adamant Elijah was not a Gentile assert that a Gentile couldn't have a Hebrew name, or that we aren't told of Elijah's circumcision and conversion to Judaism. As a Black person in the U.S., the assumption about the name baffles me. My real name is of French origin; I am neither French nor have I ever been to France. I know countless Asian Americans who have European names; these names were generally adopted when they arrived in the U.S. and are not their given names. Throughout the Bible we see God change people's names, but throughout life we see people change their own names. Furthermore, Elijah's parents could have been the ones to convert, and after converting, decided to give their son a Hebrew name. This is similar to how first generation Americans will sometimes give their children "American" names. The omission of an information about Elijah's conversion would be covered by the notion that his parents were the ones to convert; he would then have automatically been circumcised as a child, but he still wouldn't be Hebrew by blood. Of course, in the New Testament, when the apostles were introducing the Gentiles to the Word, they are explicitly told not to worry about circumcision (see Acts 15). The idea that this would have prevented the Israelites from listening to Elijah is interesting because Ahab wanted him dead. Most of the northern kingdom had already fallen into idolatry and those that hadn't weren't really in the position to reject anyone from their numbers. Plus, after Elijah rose a person from the dead, I'm sure they didn't care about the specifics of his lineage.

All in all, I think it could go either way. Both sides make valid points, there are just so many caveats and exceptions that it's hard to say one is more accurate than the other. The idea of Elijah being non-Israelites provides a nice symmetry to later events. For instance, when Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus, it would represent both the Jews and the Gentiles. It would add another layer of depth to the interpretation of the Word, for certain. However, I don't think the difference is so important that it changes the overall message of God.
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A Drought

Instead of a background story, we jump right into Elijah's first mission from God: he brings news to Ahab that God has pronounced a drought on Israel. Neither rain nor dew would fall in land until God said so, and considering the fact that Israel is located in the desert, this was probably a much bigger deal than it would have been in a place with more abundant water in the land. In water rich lands, it would take time to deplete the water resources before any effects of a drought could be felt, however in Israel, the effects would be almost immediate.
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Refuge

To protect Elijah from the effects, God sends him to a brook called Cherith which was near the Jordan. Scholars associate this brook with Wadi Qelt, though they are not certain that is a correct match.^[7] Once at the brook, Elijah is fed by ravens. People often associate ravens with death and evil because they are black, but this proves that God was not a respecter of color. God entrusts ravens to bring bread and meat to Elijah each day while he is in the wilderness. Interestingly, this means that the food was considered clean even though it had been in their beaks first--I highly doubt the ravens were able to wrap the food in a bag or cloth before carrying it away. Had the Pharisees thought about it, they would not have chastised Jesus about eating bread without washing his hands in Matthew 12. Two things that were never declared unclean--a living raven and bread or dirt and bread in Jesus' case--can't make each other unclean. This is also a reminder that unclean designated the status of whether we could eat the animal or not, animals such as mules, horses, and donkeys still played a critical role in farming; it was only when they died that they became unclean.

When the brook dried up, Elijah had to find another place of refuge. This time, God sends him to a widow in the city of Zarephath. Although she is struggling to feed her own family, she provides for Elijah as well. Elijah tells her that her supply will not falter until God sends rain to Israel, and as prophesied, they are able to eat until the rain falls.

It is interesting that God sends Elijah to the wilderness first and to the woman second. Once could easily question why not send Elijah to the woman from the get go. Sending Elijah first to the wilderness, where ravens provided for him, strengthened his faith in God. It is easy to assume a human is kind simply by nature and to attribute their generosity to luck or chance. However, ravens bringing you food is a miracle; it is much harder to look over God's glory in such an act. Just as Israel had to come through the wilderness where God proved Himself, this is where Elijah's journey began, too.
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Raising the Dead

One of Elijah's most miraculous moments was when he brought the widow's son back to life from the dead. Just when everything should have been returning back to normal because the drought had passed, the son of the widow fell ill. The woman thought this was some sort of punishment from God for her past sins brought on by Elijah. Troubled by the events, Elijah prayed for life to return to the young boy. God hears Elijah's request and grants life back into the boy's body. This is the first resurrection spoken of in the Bible, but it is not the only resurrection to be brought about by human hands.
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A Ray of Hope

Three years after Elijah's first encounter with Ahab, God sends Elijah back to tell them of the coming rain. When Elijah gets to Ahab in Samaria, a famine is ravaging the land. It makes sense that after a three year drought, there would be a shortage of food.

Before Elijah arrives, Ahab calls for a man named Obadiah. Obadiah was a God-fearing man and was trying to do right by God. When Ahab's wife Jezebel went after the prophets, Obadiah hid 100 of them in a cave and brought food and water to them. This must have been difficult during the famine. I'd wager Ahab didn't know about any of this, otherwise, I think Obadiah would have been on Ahab's bad side.

Ahab wanted Obadiah to search for water and grass for the livestock. Keeping the livestock alive would have been a top priority in the kingdom. Without rain, crops would have been almost impossible to grow leaving meat and animal products such as eggs or milk to be the only provisions left. If the animals died, the Israelites would have nothing.

When the two men split up in search of these resources, it is Obadiah who runs into Elijah. Elijah asks Obadiah to tell Ahab that he is present but Obadiah sees this as a death sentence on himself. Ahab had apparently been looking for Elijah unsuccessfully for some time. Obadiah was afraid Elijah would disappear, provoking the kings wrath. During this time it seems the queen (Jezebel) was purging the kingdom of people who worshipped the Lord, in favor of pagan worshippers. Elijah is not afraid to meet the king and queen however; he gives his word that he will remain.

Ahab is quick to blame the situation on Elijah, just as people today blame the troubles of the world on God and His people. Elijah quickly reminds Ahab that it is he and his line that have forsaken the commandments and brought God's wrath upon them. Elijah has Ahab gather everyone, including the false prophets of Baal and Asherah, to mount Carmel.
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A Challenge Issued

Elijah says the same thing the New Testament tells us: you can't follow two gods. Elijah gives Israel the same choice we have today, to follow God or to follow the false Baal. Elijah points out that he is the only prophet of the Lord left but Baal has 450 men claiming to be his prophets. Elijah challenges them to bring 2 bulls to be sacrificed, only, they would not put fire to them. The men of Baal were to call on Baal to enflame their bull, and Elijah would call on God to enflame his.

Then men of Baal cry out to their deity from morning until noon, but nothing happens. Elijah mocks the men by suggesting that their god is sleeping or out on an adventure. The men even resort to self harm to attract the false god's attention. As one can expect, Baal does not answer and no fire engulfs the bull.

When it is Elijah's turn, he creates a trench of water around the sacrifice. Following this, he prays to God. Elijah asks that God will show Himself to the people so that they may turn away from Baal and back to the true God. God answers Elijah's prayer and sets fire to the bull. When the people see this, they fall to the ground to worship God.
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End of the Drought

Elijah commands them to put the prophets of Baal to death. After this is carried out, rain returns to the land. Elijah sends Ahab ahead of the rain by chariot and he runs before the chariot with the help of God. This should have been seen as a friendly gesture, but it was not taken as such by Ahab or his wife.
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Conflict with Jezebel

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Shyle Zacharias

When Jezebel hears that all of her pagan priests have been killed, she sets out to kill Elijah. Elijah flees to Beersheba, where he leaves his servant but continues himself into the wilderness. In the wilderness Elijah asks God to end his life. Elijah felt like he was no better than his fathers; an understandable feeling after you've killed 450 men. While Elijah is sleeping under a juniper tree, God sends an angel to wake him. The angel tells Elijah to rise and eat of the cake and water God has provided. Appearing twice, the angel persuades Elijah to eat informing him, that his journey is great. Elijah was sustained for 40 days and nights on this alone. We should never fear how we will survive when following the path the Lord has set for us; rest assured, He will provide.

After the 40 days, God speaks to Elijah while he is living in a cave. When God questions Elijah on why he is in the cave, Elijah explains his dilemma (which God already knows). God's question was likely to prompt Elijah into thinking about why he would hide away when the people really needed him. God places Elijah on the mountain, and he sends a wind, an earthquake, and fire. None of these acts of God "contain His Spirit," however. It is a still small voice that actually speaks to Elijah. This is evidence that while God is big and powerful, He is also peaceful and calm. He does not reveal himself only through destruction but by this still small voice as well. Once again, God questions Elijah about what he is doing there. Likely, God's message to Elijah was that He is all powerful; there is no need to hide when you are fighting on God's side of the war.
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Ahab

Although Ahab isn't particularly fond of Elijah, it is Jezebel who becomes angry and decrees that Elijah should be killed. Given the fact that Jezebel was both a pagan and a female, one would think she would not have held such power. For her to command such power, Ahab had to have given it to her. Either he acted as a puppet, commanding everything she asked, or he gave the order for his servants to follow her instruction.

While I see nothing wrong in a healthy partnership where the wife is able to express her opinions and thoughts, there is something amiss about a king who allows someone else to take control of his kingdom. Ahab's inability to be the "ultimate" authority in his kingdom stemmed from his lack of leadership skills. Likely, he had no leadership skills because God had not appointed him king. We will continue to see Jezebel usurp power and undermine Ahab's rule throughout the text. Perhaps if Ahab had married a different woman, or had stood his ground, he wouldn't have gone down in history as such a bad king. At least, he probably would have been more recognizable than his wife and arch enemy.
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Jezebel's Legacy

When I was little, my parents bought me horse who had already been named. Her name was Jezebel, though everyone in my family called her Jazzy or Jazabelle. We all thought it was crazy that she had been named Jezebel; that's almost as bad as naming your pet Lucifer! Jezebel clearly wasn't a positive figure in the Bible, but when I hear the name "Jezebel," I don't think of calculating and murderous, as Queen Jezebel proved to be, I think of a promiscuous woman.

In everyday speech, jezebel is used about the same way as "hussy." Urban dictionary lists the term to mean a variety of things, from beautiful to "whore."^<[8] Jezebel is also the name of a popular magazine that is targeted to women and specializes in "celebrities, sex, feminism, and issues relating to women's empowerment." Is it not odd that a magazine supposedly about women's empowerment, chose to name itself after the evilest woman in the Bible? Why not name it after Esther? Mariam? Deborah? They could have even named it after a famous woman who was from secular history, but they chose Jezebel. Why?

The question often comes back to how Jezebel got associated with sexuality and promiscuity; her evil deeds dealt with idolatry, not sex. I suspect it comes from a misinterpretation of 2 Kings 9:22, in which a reference is made to the whoredoms of Jezebel. However, this isn't a reference to sexual whoredom. The bible often uses this phrase when discussing idolatry. To bow to other gods is to commit adultery to the true God (remember, we are the bride of Christ). I'm pretty sure people misinterpreted this verse until suddenly Jezebel was a whore and her name became an insult meaning whore.
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Elijah Makes an Ally

God sends Elijah to Damascus, where he is instructed to anoint Hazael to be the king of Syria. Even though Syria was not God's chosen land, He was still in control of who should be king. The Bible focuses on God's chosen people, so we often forget that God is supereme over the whole world. This means God has always had a hand in what happened in other nations. Just because these nations were not chosen to preserve God's word does not mean He forgot about them or abandoned them. Remember many of the surrounding nations were also descendants of Abraham.

In addition to instructing Elijah on forming this alliance with Syria, God gives Elijah instructions for Israel. God appoints Jehu to be anointed king and replace Ahab. God says that Hazael will slay their enemies, but those not slain by him were to be slain by Jehu, and those not slain by Jehu, were to be slain by Elijah. Elijah was given a plan to ensure all of God's enemies were stamped out; if one person failed to do the job, there was another to carry out the task. To aid in this upcoming battle, God reveals that He has 7000 followers still in Israel. These 7000 had not succumbed to idolatry and had resisted the popular trend of bowing to Baal. I think it's safe to say, as long as we're still here, there is a sizable army of God still present in the world.
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The Next Prophet: Elisha

Also in Elijah's instructions from God, was the appoint of an apprentice to become the next prophet: Elisha. Elijah convinces Elisha to follow him. Elisha was the son of Shaphat. Elisha is eager to follow Elijah, who was likely well known and admired in circles that still worshiped God. In celebration of the honor, Elisha kills a set of oxen and the people of Elisha's town feast with them. After the feast, Elisha follows Elijah to become the next prophet according to God's command.
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References

1. M.G. Easton M.A., D.D. "Gilead". Illustrated Bible Dictionary, via BibleStudyTools.com. 1897; visited January 2017
2. Elijah Was A Gentile". Beware Deception. May 3, 2009
3. "1 Kings 17:1 Commentary". via BibleHub.com; visited January 2017
4. "Elijah was NOT a Gentile". OSY Ministries. 2011
5. "Strong's H8453: towshab. Blue Letter Bible; visited January 2017
6. Emil G. Hirsch, Eduard König, Solomon Schechter, Louis Ginzberg, M. Seligsohn, Kaufmann Kohler. "Elijah. Jewish Encyclopedia; visited January 2017
7. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible, pg. 616. 2014
8. "Jezebel. Urban Dictionary; visited January 2017