Lesson Four
Elijah

The Prophet Elijah 
•	Elijah was one of the most remarkable characters of the Old Testament.
•	Kings 17:1, "Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead." 
•	Gilead was the country east of the Jordan River, a high plateau of 2,000 feet elevation.
•	Elijah became acquainted with the true God of Israel.
•	It was here that the fierce zeal of his prophetic ministry was nurture. 
•	It is claimed that his clothing consisted of a girdle of skin around his loins.
•	He wore his hair long, hanging down his back.
•	His prophecy of drought was dramatic.

The Idolatry of Israel 
•	At the time of Elijah, Israel was wholly given to idolatry.
•	King Ahab had married a Phoenician wife, Jezebel, who was a champion of foreign culture. 
•	Jezebel had the altars of Jehovah torn down and heathen ones built.
•	She was responsible for the hatred and persecution of the true prophets.
•	Jezebel introduced the idolatrous worship of Baal into Israel and the licentious orgies of the goddess Ashtoreth.

The Brook Cherith
•	I Kings 17:3-7
•	It was to be expected that Ahab would seek to take Elijah's life.
•	The Lord instructed him to go eastward to the Brook Cherith and hide there. 
•	Each morning and evening, God sent ravens with bread and meat to feed him. 
•	Throughout Israel there was a drought accompanied by famine, but Elijah was miraculously fed until the brook dried up.

The Widow of Zarephath
•	I Kings 17:8-24 
•	Elijah had hid from Ahab during the forty-two months of the drought.
•	Ahab hunted him everywhere, even in foreign countries.
•	God told Elijah to go to Zarephath where a widow would sustain him.
•	The widow woman was apparently an Israelite who believed in God.
•	She was extremely poor and lived alone with her son.
•	She provided for Elijah and the miracle took place.
•	As long as Elijah remained there, the widow and her son had food to eat. 
•	The son became ill and apparently died. 
•	Elijah prayed, stretched himself upon him three times, prayed again and the son revived.
•	I Kings 17:17-24

Contest On Mt. Carmel 
•	At the end of the drought, there was very little vegetation still growing. 
•	Elijah suddenly appeared to Obadiah. 
•	Obadiah was a believer in God and has supported a hundred young prophets in hiding. 
•	Obadiah was persuaded to tell Ahab that Elijah had appeared. 
•	The King and the prophet met and Elijah proposed a contest to see whether Baal or God was the true God. 
•	He challenges the people to accept the God who could answer by fire. 
•	Throughout the day Baal worshipers called frantically on their gods, but to no avail. 

Elijah's steps 
•	The altar of the Lord is repaired…PRAYER; 
•	The altar is built with twelve stones. Elijah ignored the division of the nation…UNITY; 
•	The Name of the Lord…THE NAME OF JESUS IS ESSENTIAL; 
•	Trench dug around the altar…SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD; 
•	Wood is placed in order…CALVARY; 
•	Bullock placed on the altar…SACRIFICE AND SHEDDING OF BLOOD; 
•	Twelve barrels of water…WATER BAPTISM

Elijah in The Wilderness
•	I Kings 19:4-8
•	Jezebel vowed vengeance and Elijah fled for his life
•	He was discouraged and despondent. 
•	An angel touched him and bade him eat. 
•	A cake was baked on some coals and there was a cruse of water. 
•	Twice he was ordered to eat and with the strength of that food, Elijah went for 40 days

Elijah at Horeb
•	I Kings 19:9-21 
•	At Horeb, Elijah lodged in a cave.
•	Here he experienced a mighty wind, an earthquake and fire. 
•	Then he heard the still small voice of the Lord. 
•	He was commissioned to anoint 
o	Hazael as King of Syria
o	Jehu as King of Israel
o	Elisha to be his own successor. 
•	Elijah was assured that there were 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed their knees to Baal. 

Naboth's Vineyard
•	I Kings 21:1-24
•	When Jezebel took Naboth's vineyard for Ahab and had Naboth murdered, Elijah met the King in the vineyard and rebuked him. 
•	He prophesied that the dogs would like his blood in the same spot that Naboth died. 

Elijah Was Translated
•	II Kings 2:11 
•	Elijah and Enoch were the only two men who were caught up to heaven without dying 
•	As Elijah and Elisha walked along, a chariot and horses of fire parted them and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 
•	Later Elijah appeared to Jesus on the Mt. of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3,4) 
•	Some believe that Elijah will be one of the two witnesses in Revelation chapter 11. 

Lesson Four
Self Help Test
SELF HELP TEST 
A.	Write a character sketch of Elijah, the prophet. 

B.	Why was Elijah needed in Israel at this time? 

C.	Describe the experiences of Elijah: 

1.	In the wilderness: 

2.	At Zarephath: 

3.	At Horeb: 

D.	Show how the steps took at Mt. Carmel are also similar to what should be done today for revival. 

E.	In detail, show how Elijah was a man "of like passions" such as we are (James 5:17).