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Prophet and messenger of God
- Elias is an important biblical figure who appears variously in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. A prophet and messenger of God, Elias played a major role in the events of his time, beginning with the infamous stand-off between God and the prophet of the altar in the book of Kings.
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Jan 11, 2024 · Elias is an important biblical figure who appears variously in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. A prophet and messenger of God, Elias played a major role in the events of his time, beginning with the infamous stand-off between God and the prophet of the altar in the book of Kings.
Elijah ( / ɪˈlaɪdʒə / il-EYE-jə; Hebrew: אֵלִיָּהוּ, romanized : ʾĒlīyyāhū, meaning "My God is Yahweh [9] / YHWH "; [10] [11] Greek form: Elias [a] / ɪˈlaɪəs / il-EYE-əs) was, according to the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible, a prophet and a miracle worker who lived in the northern kingdom of Israel [12] during the reign of King Ahab (9th cen...
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Elijah (flourished 9th century bce) Hebrew prophet who ranks with Moses in saving the religion of Yahweh from being corrupted by the nature worship of Baal. Elijah’s name means “Yahweh is my God” and is spelled Elias in some versions of the Bible. The story of his prophetic career in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reigns of Kings Ahab an...
The Israelite king Omri had allied himself with the Phoenician cities of the coast, and his son Ahab was married to Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Tyre and Sidon. Jezebel, with her Tyrian courtiers and a large contingent of pagan priests and prophets, propagated her native religion in a sanctuary built for Baal in the royal city of Samaria. ...
Elijah was from Tishbe in Gilead. The narrative in 1 Kings relates how he suddenly appears during Ahab’s reign to proclaim a drought in punishment of the cult of Baal that Jezebel was promoting in Israel at Yahweh’s expense. Later Elijah meets 450 prophets of Baal in a contest of strength on Mount Carmel to determine which deity is the true God of Israel. Sacrifices are placed on an altar to Baal and one to Yahweh. The pagan prophets’ ecstatic appeals to Baal to kindle the wood on his altar are unsuccessful, but Elijah’s prayers to Yahweh are answered by a fire on his altar. This outcome is taken as decisive by the Israelites, who slay the priests and prophets of Baal under Elijah’s direction. The drought thereupon ends with the falling of rain.
Elijah flees the wrath of the vengeful Jezebel by undertaking a pilgrimage to Mount Horeb (Sinai), where he is at first disheartened in his struggle and then miraculously renewed. In a further narrative, King Ahab has a man named Naboth condemned to death in order to gain possession of his vineyard. Ahab’s judicial murder of Naboth and confiscation of his vineyard arouse Elijah as the upholder of the moral law, as before he had come forward as the champion of monotheism. Elijah denounces Ahab for his crimes, asserting that all men are subject to the law of God and are therefore equals. Later Ahab’s son, King Ahaziah, appeals to Baal to heal him of an injury, and Elijah once more upholds the exclusive rights of Yahweh by bringing down “fire from heaven.” After bestowing his mantle on his successor, Elisha, the prophet Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.
One of the most important moments in the history of monotheism is the climax of Elijah’s struggle with Baalism. His momentous words, “If Yahweh is God, follow him, but if Baal, then follow him”—especially when taken with the prayer “Hear me, Yahweh, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God”—show that more is at stake than simply allotting to divinities their particular spheres of influence. The true question is whether Yahweh or Baal is God, simply and universally. Elijah’s words proclaim that there is no reality except the God of Israel, there are no other beings entitled to the name of divinity. The acclamation of the people, “Yahweh, he is God” expresses a fully conscious monotheism, never before perhaps brought home to them so clearly.
Elijah’s deepest prophetic experience takes place on his pilgrimage to Horeb, where he learns that God is not in the storm, the earthquake, or the lightning. Nature, so far from being God’s embodiment, is not even an adequate symbol. God is invisible and spiritual and is best known in the intellectual word of revelation, “the still, small voice.” The transcendence of God receives here one of its earliest expressions. Elijah’s story also expresses for the first time a thought that was to dominate Hebrew prophecy: in contrast to the bland hopes of the people, salvation is bestowed only on a “remnant,” those purified by God’s judgment. The theme of the later prophets, that morality must be at the heart of ritual worship, is also taught by Elijah, who upholds the unity of law and religion against the despotic cruelty of a king influenced by a pagan wife. Elijah’s work may also be regarded as a protest against every effort to find religious experience in self-induced ecstasy and sensual frenzy rather than in a faith linked with reason and morality.
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Elias, also known as Elijah, is a prominent prophet in the Bible who plays a crucial role in the spiritual development of the Israelites. His life and legacy have inspired countless believers, and his story is filled with lessons that can be applied to our faith journey today.
- What challenges and miracles did Elias face?Throughout his ministry, Elias faced numerous challenges and performed many miracles. One notable event was the contest at Mount Carmel, where he c...
- How did Elias encounter God?Despite his divine calling, Elias often struggled with feelings of loneliness and despair. When he fled from Jezebel's threats, he found refuge in...
- What are some key Bible verses about Elias?Some key Bible verses about Elias include 1 Kings 17:1, where Elias announces to King Ahab that there will be a severe drought in Israel as a punis...
- What is the legacy of Elias?Elias's life and ministry continue to have a profound impact on believers today. His unwavering devotion to God, even in the face of danger and opp...
Sep 13, 2023 · Who is the Prophet Elijah in the Bible? Prophet Elijah (Greek name Elias ), the God-seer, miracle worker, and zealot for faith in God was born of the tribe of Aaron in the town of Tishba, for which he was called the Tishbite.
Jul 25, 2019 · Austin Cline. Updated on July 25, 2019. Elijah (900 BCE–849 BCE) appears in the Judaic/Christian religious texts as well as in the Quran of Islam as a prophet and messenger of God. He also plays a role as a prophet for Mormons in the Church of Latter-Day Saints.
Elias is the Greek form of Elijah ( Matt. 11:14 ). Elijah the Tishbite is the grandest and most romantic character Israel ever produced ( 1 Kings 17; 18; 19 ). The Man Who Had No Fear of Man. No career in the Old Testament is more vividly portrayed, or has as much fascination as that of the unique character of Elijah.
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