The Prophet Elijah, who is a thorn in the side to the ruler Ahab, tells the King to gather all Israel, as well as 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah, at Mount Carmel, for the sole purpose of proving once, and for all, that *GOD* ALONE is REAL, and LIVING, while the lesser gods are lifeless, dull, and without power, which the King agrees to...
The prophets of the lifeless gods were instructed to prepare an ox for sacrifice, but place no fire beneath it, which they did. Elijah then told them to call upon their gods, which they did for hours, and hours, in hopes that their gods would consume the sacrifice, as they performed pagan rituals to no avail, while Elijah began mocking them...
After the time of the evening sacrifice he told all the people to draw near. He built an alter to THE LORD, with 12 stones, since the existing one had been torn down in favour of other gods. Around this alter, he dug a trench, then placed firewood, and cut an ox in pieces which he placed on the wood, telling people to saturate the wood, and the ox with four pitcher of water, not once, but three times, which they did...
Then, he PRAYED, and called upon THE LORD, who came and consumed, with fire, the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench, that these people might KNOW that HE IS THE LORD *GOD*, in which case, all fell prostate, PRAISING, and WORSHIPING HIM. Elijah then commanded that the prophets of the lifeless gods be eradicated....
Hebrew translation for Elijah is "THE LORD is *GOD*".
Elijah was ninth-century B. C. Prophet who was active in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah. He was a great, and determined defender of the WORSHIP of THE LORD against the syncretism and apostasy that were afflicting the land under Ahab, and his Wife Jezebel. He challenged pagan cults, especially that of Baal and was invoked by *GOD* to work miracles as a means of convincing Israel that YAHWEH was their true *GOD*....
Little is known of his early years, except for a reference in 1 KINGS 17: 1, which calls him 'the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead'. From the beginning of his Ministry, Elijah had involvement in the Royal affairs of the Dynasty Omri, and was single-mindedly committed to his appointed role. He was not concerned about personal appearance, and had little thought of human comforts. He was fed by ravens, by a Widow, and by an Angel (1 KINGS 17: 6, 15; 19:5)....
He consistently, and unrelentingly declared THE LORD'S unique, and utterly SUPREME DIVINITY. He fought, often alone, with great courage against the idolatry of that time, making the powerful pagan Queen, Jezebel, his implacable enemy...
There is likeness between Elijah, and Moses, in a number of ways: Elijah meets *GOD* at Horeb, or Sinai, the place where *GOD* gave the Law to Moses. Elijah is succceeded by Elisha, as Joshua followed Moses. When it was time, Elijah is taken away under mysterious circumstances, just as Moses was buried in secret....
The translation of Elijah was also, the basis for the belief that he would reappear, at some point (MALACHI 3:23: SIRACH 48:10). Such is evident in THE NEW TESTAMENT (MATTHEW 11: 14; 17: 10; MARK 9: 11; JOHN 1: 21, 25)....
JESUS was thought to be Elijah by some (MATTHEW 16: 14; MARK 8: 29; LUKE 9: 19), and of course, John The Baptist was asked if he was the Prophet Elijah (JOHN 1: 21, 25). JESUS replied that, John The Baptist was, indeed, the new Elijah whose coming was foretold by the Prophet Malachi (MATTHEW 11: 14; 17: 11; MARK 9: 12). CHRIST also referred to Elijah at Nazareth when HE noted that a Prophet is rejected in his own country (LUKE 4: 25)...
Elijah, with Moses were present at the Transfiguration of JESUS (MATTHEW 17: 3; MARK 9: 4; LUKE 9: 30). Elijah representing the Prophets, and Moses the Law, THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES giving witness to the GLORIFICATION of JESUS...
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