A HAIRY MAN FROM GILEAD

          Elijah is the most mentioned and most extolled Old Testament prophet in the New Testament.  In spite of this observation there remains a  high degree of mystique about Elijah.  We do not know who his parents were.  Neither do we know anything about his education or vocation other than his role as a prophet.   Prior to the stories that begin in 1Kgs.17:1ff, we know nothing of any prior accomplishments.  1Kgs.17:1a states that he was the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead.  Tishbe was a town in Naphtali (north of the Sea of Galilee).  Perhaps that town was the Elijah’s birth place.  Gilead was a hill-country region east of the Jordan river (Gen.31:21) renown for an exquisite balm derived from the gum of trees.

          Sometimes we’re inclined to place prophets on pedestals, as if they belonged to some super-human strain.  But from the New Testament we learn from James that Elijah was a man with a nature like ours (Js.5:17).  The New English Bible renders this word “homo-pathos” as, a man with human frailties like our own.  While we may not see those frailties in 1Kgs.17:1, we will encounter them in later chapters in the book of First Kings.   Another verse paints a picture of Elijah, saying he was a hairy man with a leather girdle bound about his loins (2Kgs.1:8).  From that description we can see why some thought John the Baptizer was Elijah re-incarnated (Mt.3:4 and Mk.6:15).  The name Elijah means “MY GOD IS JEHOVAH”, which tells us quite a bit.  One final but noteworthy nugget of Scripture divulges that Elijah was a righteous man who prayed fervently (Js.5:16).  

          We can also safely conclude that Elijah was bold and courageous.  Elijah said to king Ahab, As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word (1Kgs.17:1b).  This statement is jam-packed with details.  The God of Israel is alive; It is Jehovah that I serve; and there shall be no rain.  These first two phrases were a rebuke to King Ahab who was serving the false (dead) god Baal, and the latter declaration spoke of God’s coming judgment.  Baal was a pagan god of winter rain and storm (a fertility god of good crops).  If Elijah’s prophecy comes to be fulfilled it will spell disaster for the northern kingdom.  Without rain wells dry up; food does not grow; suf-fering becomes intense; and people starve and die.  Translated into one word, God’s decree delivered by Elijah meant FAMINE.  How will Baal stack up against the true and living God, Yahweh?  Stay tuned and we shall see.         

                                                                                                                                                                               Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ