The Source of Elijah’s Strength

“And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.’” (1 Kings 17:1 NKJV)

The times in the ancient Kingdom of Israel were so chaotic that they saw four ruling dynasties rise and conquer the previous. It was a crucial time in the history of Israel, and it looked as if the worship of the true God might be completely eliminated among the northern tribes of Israel. It was a time when the whole kingdom seemed to be apostate, and any true follower of God had reason to feel very alone.

At this crucial time in the history of Judah and Israel, the Prophet Elijah suddenly appeared, shining like a meteor on a black night. He became the dominant spiritual force in Israel during the dark days of Ahab’s apostasy. The name Elijah means, Yahweh is my God. In the days when Ahab’s government officially supported the worship of Baal and other gods, even the name of this prophet told the truth.

Elijah said, “There shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” This was a dramatic demonstration against the pagan god Baal, who was thought to be the sky god, the god of the weather. Elijah showed through his prayers to the God of Israel that Yahweh was mightier than Baal. This was the old religion against the new; camel’s hair against soft clothing; moral strength against moral weakness.

Elijah was not merely the prophet of this drought - in the sense of prayer, he was the cause of the drought. He prayed and it happened. James 5:17-18 makes this clear: Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

In this initial statement Elijah revealed the source of his strength: “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand.” It is specifically said “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours” (James 5:17). Yet he showed a strength greater than most of us in our life with God. We must pay attention to these two indications revealing the source of Elijah’s strength.

First, he said, “As the Lord God of Israel lives.” Everyone else felt that the Lord was dead, but for Elijah the Lord lived. He was the supreme reality of Elijah’s life.

Secondly, he said, “Before whom I stand.” He stood in the presence of Ahab, but he was conscious of the presence of Someone greater than any earthly king. Gabriel himself could not choose a higher title (Luke 1:19).

It is easy to see that we ourselves live in a dark day. Should we not expect God to raise up new Elijahs today – men and women of such moral and spiritual strength that they shine like a meteor on a dark night? Remember that Elijah was a man just like you; if he had your weaknesses, then you – with God’s blessings – can have his strength.

Based on The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik.