Titbits for the Soul #6 - A Man Just Like Us

A Man Just Like Us

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“Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.” James 5:17-18 (BSB)

King Ahab’s wicked ways, his marriage to Jezebel and his idolatry, provoked the anger of the Lord against him. At God’s command Elijah the Tishbite from Gilead, challenged Ahab with these words found in 1 Kings 17:1, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” Having confronted Ahab, Elijah’s life was under threat, and so God instructed Elijah to go into hiding. As Elijah stayed in seclusion for many long months, God, in His faithfulness provided him with the basics - water from the brook and bread and meat, which the ravens brought him daily, both in the morning and in the evening.

Eventually, even the brook dried up, and God directed Elijah to go to Zarephath, which was also struck with severe famine. When Elijah got there, God arranged for a widow, who had a son, to take care of Elijah. Though all that the poor widow had with her, was a handful of flour and a little oil, in obedience to God’s word, she hosted Elijah. God miraculously multiplied the meager she had, to help her feed her family and the prophet until the famine ended.

When God sent Elijah back to Ahab with the good news that there would be rain in the land, the first thing Elijah did was to challenge the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. As Elijah stood there as the lone representative of the God of Israel, against the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, the Lord honored Elijah with an astounding manifestation of His power and might. It was a day of stupendous victory for Elijah, and total defeat for the prophets of Baal, all of whom were executed (1 Kings 18:20-40).

Though Elijah had predicted abundance of rain to King Ahab, there was not a sign of a cloud in the sky. It was then that Elijah bowed himself to the ground, and pleaded with God seven times to send the rains He had promised. Finally, there appeared in the sky, rising from the sea, a cloud as small as a man’s hand, followed by torrential rains, just as Elijah had predicted. (1 Kings 18:41-46).

However, when Queen Jezebel sought to avenge the death of the prophets and threatened Elijah with death, Elijah fled into the wilderness. Having come to his wits end, lonely, discouraged and depressed, Elijah begged God to take his life. The Lord in His kindness, sent His angel to provide food and water for Elijah, so he could be strengthened to move on. After forty days and nights when Elijah reached Horeb, as he hid in a cave, the Lord encouraged him through His still small voice. God made Elijah realize that he was not the only one, but that there were seven thousand more who had been faithful to the Lord, and not bowed down to Baal. (Read the entire account in 1 Kings 19)

Elijah passed on his mantle to Elisha. At the end of his life, we read in 2 Kings 2:11 that Elijah was taken into the heavens in a most dramatic way. A chariot of fire appeared, with horses of fire and Elijah ascended into the heavens in a mighty whirlwind.

If we were to ponder all that Elijah went through, we will certainly be able to relate much of it to what we are going through during this season of pandemic and extended lockdowns. Like us, Elijah too had a long period of social distancing, loneliness, having only the basic needs met, surrounded by people in need, the threat to his life, fears and discouragement that led him into depression. No wonder then that James 5:17 refers to Elijah as a man with a nature just like ours. However, what made him so distinguished was that Elijah was a righteous man, who obeyed God implicitly, trusted Him wholeheartedly and prayed most fervently.

Elijah was like any one of us, but his prayers controlled the heavens, as it were, and changed the destiny of an entire nation. Let us be encouraged, knowing that God is willing to use each one of us, irrespective of who we are, if we walk righteously before the Lord and seek Him just as Elijah did. James 5:16 reminds us that, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (NLT)

God’s word exhorts us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (ESV). Have a beautiful day.

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The Life Transforming WORD - By Esther Collins