Lessons From Elijah Page 1 Elijah’s Translation Lesson 5 1 Kings 19 Elijah selected Elisha to follow him. 1 Kings 19:19-21 • Elisha plowing in the lead of 12 teams. o His father probably was a prosperous farmer. o Son next in line to run the farm. • Elijah threw his garment onto Elisha. o A call to follow him. A call to full time prophecy. o Elijah was to be the mentor to Elisha • Elisha immediately accepted and left all. o Requested to tell his parents goodbye. o Elijah gave his freedom to do whatever. o Elisha gave up his implements and animals. Burned the tools of his occupation. Burned his bridges behind him. Forsook all and followed. • Scholars believe Elisha followed Elijah faithfully for 13 years before he finally was anointed and took his place. o Elisha had a preparation time. o Evidently Elijah did not have this preparation time. Elijah in the vineyard of Naboth. 1 Kings 21:17-24 • King Ahab wanted an adjoining vineyard which was the family inheritance of a Hebrew named Naboth. o Naboth refused. o Ahab pouted. o Jezebel told Ahab not to pout, that she would get the vineyard for Ahab. • Jezebel plotted against Naboth to cause his death. o Ordered city fathers to have party honoring Naboth, but to plant two false accusers at the party. o False accusers were to say, “Naboth has blasphemed God and the king!” o They did so and Naboth was stoned to death. • Jezebel informed Ahab that Naboth was dead and that he may now take possession of the vineyard. Lessons From Elijah Page 2 • Ahab went to the vineyard to take possession of it. o God had instructed Elijah to meet Ahab at the vineyard and to deliver a message. o ‘Thus says the Lord: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?”’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.”’” Ahab’s death occurred 12-13 years later o 1 Kings 22:37-38 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed, according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken. Elijah and King Ahaziah, the son and successor of King Ahab. 2 Kings 1:1- 17 • 1 Kings 22:40 So Ahab rested with his fathers. Then Ahaziah his son reigned in his place. o Ahaziah reigned 2 years. • Vs. 1-6 Ahaziah injured himself. He sent to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron if he would recover? o Vs. 7-8 Elijah’s appearance was distinctive. o Vs. 9 Ahaziah expected a negative report for Elijah. Elijah had prophesied, rightly, the death of his father Ahab. And had also prophesied the death of Queen Jezebel. He sent 51 men after him. o Vs. 10 First time fire from God destroyed human life. o Vs. 11-12 Second group of 51 sent and burned. o Vs. 13-14 Third group sent. Vs. 15 Angel told Elijah to go with them to Ahaziah. Vs. 16 He went and gave message of death. Vs. 17 The King died. • Lk. 9:51-56 Jesus forbad disciples from calling down fire on Samaritans. o Major evidence of difference between covenants of Law and Grace. o We must have mercy and allow God to judge. “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” (Heb. 10:30) Win the lost by love, not by threat of damnation. Sons of prophets 2 Kings 1:2-8 • 2 Kings 2:1 states, “ And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind , that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.” • Elisha has not been mentioned for 13 years since first called, but evidently had been following Elijah. • Vs. 2-8 Elisha will not leave Elijah. Lessons From Elijah Page 3 • Who were the “sons of the prophets”? o Elijah and Elisha were associated with groups known as "sons of prophets" (2 Kings 2:3, 5, 7, 15; 4:1, 38; 5:22 and especially 6:1ff.). o Sometimes one of the sons of the prophets acts singularly (1 Kings 20:35ff.). • Some have said that the account of verses 2-8 is Elijah visiting the schools of prophets over which he was the master. o Leaving Gilgal, he visited the school of prophets at Bethel, and on to the school of prophets at Jericho. Then, followed by a group of 50 prophets from the Jericho school, he & Elisha went on to the Jordan River where he parted the waters and they went to the other side, leaving the prophets behind. o Elisha and the student prophets knew that Elijah was to be taken from him and would not leave him. o They heard from the Lord. Jesus heard from the Lord, and he said to his disciples You will see greater things than these (John 1:50). Modern day living is not conducive to hearing from the Lord. We are addicted to activity and noise. Psa. 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. Psa. 4:4b says, Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. NJKV; On your bed, reflect in your heart and be still. HCSB; Just make yourself available to God. o Elisha totally committed himself to serve God under Elijah. He was Elijah’s protégé and he wasn’t about to quit following his mentor. o He was going to do what God called him to do He knew what was going to happen that day and he wasn’t about to miss out on the grand finale after serving Elijah for 13 years! If these men, under the old covenant, could hear from the Lord, then we, who have a better covenant, which was established on better promises (Heb.8:6) should be able to hear from God. To receive God’s anointing on your life, you have to be persistent. That is putting the kingdom of God first. But seek first the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33). Jesus said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart. As long as you can live without a greater manifestation of God in your life, you will. o The reference in 2 Kings 6:1 the place where we dwell with you (Elisha) (NKJV) in the HCSB is the place where we live under your supervision. This suggests that these groups received some form of training, or at least spiritual leadership from such as Elisha who probably took over Elijah’s leadership. • Elisha wanted what Elijah had. Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” (Vs. 9-10). Lessons From Elijah Page 4 o Before Elijah was taken up into the whirlwind, Elisha asked to "inherit a double- portion" of Elijah's spirit. This is indicative of the property inheritance customs of the time, where the oldest son received twice as much of the father's inheritance as the younger sons. For example, if a man had 3 sons, his property was divided into fourths. Each son received one-fourth, with the oldest receiving two-fourths (twice as much as the others). o In this instance with Elijah, Elisha is not asking to become twice as powerful as Elijah, but that he may be seen as the "rightful heir" to the work of the Lord that Elijah had done. Elijah was taken up to heaven by a whirlwind. 2 Kings 2:1, 11 • 2 Kings 2:1 states, “ And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind , that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.” • and Vs. 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven . o Elijah and Enoch (Gen. 5:24; Heb. 11:5) evidently did not taste death but were transported from this life to the next without the experience of the body dying. Enoch was credited with being a man of faith, not a man of works, as a condition of his translation. Heb. 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. I think we can assume that Elijah had similar qualifications. Same fruit comes from same seed. It is important to be people of faith. God honors us on the basis of our faith, not our performance. .