Today we read and hear a lot about superstars. Men and women who have made the mark in history, their rise to fame and often their downfalls. Some have a star on Hollywood Boulevard, others an Oscar in hand, or their face on Times Magazine, or some other trophy to prove their stats for society. But, God doesn't take much notice of such carnal things as man does. However, the Lord does notice those who follow Him with a pure heart like Abraham, Esther or David, as well as prophets like Samuel and Elijah, or other sons and daughters, who are exalted in God's eyes.
Now some of you may think this is article would be about the "test of fire" or taunting the prophets of baal, but it's not. Neither is it about killing false prophets. What I would like to talk about is the heart of Elijah, not what he did that made him famous, or a superstar to some. Especially after his high noon confrontation with the prophets of baal, and the double-minded children of Israel.
Elijah was a Tishbite, we wasn't even a Jew and he probably knew very little of the Mosaic laws. Yet he did know Yahweh, and that was the most important thing. How ironic that God chose a man from outside this clan, the children of Abraham, to be His spokesman and probably one of greatest prophets in the Old Testament. We know very little of Elijah's past or his clan other than he came from Gilead, a lush wooded area east of the Jordan River. The same place where the tribes of Reuben and Gad wanted to live rather than the Promise Land. (Numbers 32:1) There was also a city there by the same name, Jobesh-Gilead located between two rivers. This land was referred to as a healing balm; (Jer. 8:22) prophetically speaking of God's restoring power. We have to assume that Elijah also loved God and had a intimate relationship with Him, else why would God have call him to do the things he did that made him known throughout the land, just like King David was.
Elijah comes on the scene in the seventeenth chapter of I Kings. He tells King Ahab, "As the Lord, the God of Israel, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." Wow, talk about a declaration of faith. Anyway, up until now King Ahab had probably had never seen or heard of this man that stood before him dressed in camel's skins, and now Elijah was telling him there would be no rain according to his word, not the king's. Who did Elijah think he was, and so the king dismissed the crazy man along with his words, that is until things started getting dry and crops were failing.
Meanwhile the Lord told Elijah to head east and hide himself by the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan. A place where He had commanded the ravens to provide bread and meat every morning and evening and he could drink from the brook. Can you imagine eating what ravens (part of the crow family) would bring. They were called unclean fowls according to the Mosaic law. And now Elijah was eating what ravens brought to him. Maybe he cook the meat before eating it. Then after the brook dried up God sent Elijah to a starving widow's home to provide for him. (The training and sacrifices of a prophet will never be the envy of people.)
Even after Elijah moment of fame, he was still not content. In his heart he wanted more, much more of God, and the Lord knew that. One evening, Elijah was so depressed that he even begged God to take his life. Maybe because of his fears or that life on earth was just wasn't worth living anymore. Whatever it was, Elijah saw himself as alone and the only prophet left and no better than his fathers, and then he fell asleep.
However, God was not through with Elijah and He also wanted to change his negative thinking. So when Elijah awoke he saw that an angel had fixed him a meal to eat. A breakfast for champions (bread and water, plus some divine vitamins add) it give him the strength to walk for forty days and nights until he reach Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God. There on the mountain Elijah had a close encounter with the Creator that changed is life forever. He also had some other things God wanted done, before the Lord would take Him for a ride he would never forget, and neither would Elisha, who was next in line to pick-up the mantle of a prophet.
Elijah never sought to be a superstar, all he wanted was to be a simple man who loved and obeyed God. He had other great moments and miracles, including raising the dead. But, nothing compared to knowing God and seeing Him face to face even in a whisper. It is that same spirit that was on Elijah that God wants to pass on to others, like John the Baptist and even other sons of God for this generation. This should be a lesson for all of us. All the exploits one could do under the anointing of God will never compare to knowing the heavenly Father. Amen!
