Prophet of Courage

March 28, 2021 Background Scripture: 1 Kings 18 – 19; Matthew 17:1 – 13 Lesson Passage: 1 Kings 18:5 – 18 Oftentimes, if we can observe others doing something, then we might develop enough courage to give it a try as well. This can be true when we view the activity as not being too bazaar, or perceive it as being too dangerous. Let’s face it, many of us don’t like to take chances with things that can leave us feeling vulnerable—at least while we are sober! (But that’s another lesson.) However, history shows that whenever God wants to get someone’s attention, He will sometimes require very strange behavior on the part of the vessel He chooses to use. We believe that God’s glory is magnified in the face of human vulnerability and weakness. Put another way, when it is obvious that a person cannot do something, then it is likely the work of God when it is done through them. To this point, prophets of God were often put in very vulnerable situations so that the message of God could be communicated. It is within those situations that God often impacted the world in remarkable fashion. Prophets of God spoke, and the world was impacted mightily as a result of their prophetic messages. If one ventured to classify the prophets of God based on the impact of their prophecy on the world, I have little doubt that Elijah would certainly be on the shortlist. God used Elijah to prophesy some of His greatest acts of controlling nature. To add to this, at the end of Elijah’s ministry, God miraculously removed Elijah from the earth without allowing him to experience physical death. Elijah was one of the greatest of the miracle working prophets. Elijah’s miraculous departure from the earth was not the last time he would be seen or heard from. Elijah was one of the prophets seen talking to Jesus, as he was transfigured, over eight hundred years after Elijah had left the earth in a chariot of fire. There was nothing common, or run-of-the-mill, about Elijah. Elijah was eccentric in his dress and behavior. Elijah was fearless when it came to proclaiming: “What thus said the Lord”. Elijah presented himself as a spokesperson for God—it seemed to have been unapologetically. God revealed it to Elijah, Elijah spoke it in the hearing of others, and it came to past. Elijah clearly recognized the voice of God when he heard it. It did not matter how unlikely a thing might seem, or whether it had ever happened before. If God said this will come to past, Elijah boldly proclaimed it. God wanted a fearless spokesman to confront a wicked king. Coming into a king’s presence was a precarious proposition. Kings had the power to impose the death sentence on anyone. This ministry was easily described as “Speak truth to Power”. It would require a very courageous prophet to do such a thing. Elijah was chosen to be God’s mouthpiece in rebuking King Ahab. Although Elijah’s ministry involved several incidents and individuals, it does appear that the primary focus of his ministry was to rebuke a wicked king who reigned over God’s chosen people. God’s prophets were noted for speaking truth to power. Elijah was a role model for Elisha, yet Elijah had no contemporary role model himself. Yes, Elijah had to be brave and set an example for others although he had no living example himself. Indeed, Elijah was a prophet of courage. Robert C. Hudson February 22, 2021