PROPHET ELIAS,
(ELIJAH)
THE TISHBITE
(Life
and Times)
Prophet
Elias, also known as Elijah was born in a remote and little known Village
called Tishbe, which lies among the mountains of Gilead, on the other side of
the Jordan River. This area is not too far from the country of the Gergesenes,
where, in the time of our Lord the devils entered into the swine. (Luke.
8:26-39) The book of Kings of the Bible, make the following record about
Elias“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead” (I Kings,
17:1) He was born and raised by a Jewish family of which we know
nothing. His birth place Tishbe, is interpreted to mean a converter and the
name Elijah as “My God of power” or “Jehovah is my strength”. We know nothing
about his childhood and his life. Most probably Elias was a child with no
education or schooling. His fathers name was Sadok while we know nothing about
his mother. In the Book of Kings, we find Elias entering the stage of history,
abruptly out of nowhere, with a word of faith and power presenting himself to
the king saying“And Elijah the Tishbite said Unto Ahab. “As the Lord God of
Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew or rain these years,
but according to my word.” (I Kings, 17:1)
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
Elias
lived during the Kingship of the sixth King of Israel, Ahab (854-873 B.C) son
of Omri. He ruled Samaria for twenty two years. Ahab was married to have a wife
named Jezebel. She was the Daughter of the King Ethbaal of Sidon and worshiped
Baal. (I Kings 16:29-31). Ahab with the help of his wife continued his father’s
political motives new idolatry worshiping the idolatrous god Baal. All citizens
were to worship the idols of Baal, instead, of the one true God, the God of Abraham
Isaac and Jacob. The worshipers of the true God were persecuted with fire and
sword. Idols and temples were everywhere. Evil times were all over the land. In
every direction were build gloomy idols and temples.
Ever since
the death of Solomon Idolatry was coming like flood. King Jeroboam, the son of
Solomon, the Kingdom of Israel became divided into two Kingdoms. The two tribes
of Judah and Benjamin stayed faithful to the house of David and formed
Southern kingdom of Judah with the capital Jerusalem; while the ten
tribes became the Northern kingdom of Israel. With the capital of
Samaria. The two Kingdoms were at a perpetual war with each other. This
however, was not the greatest evil. Worst of all was the internal, political
and religious, disorder. The Kings of Israel and most especially Jeroboam, for
their own political interest began initiating this new idolatry.
Jeroboam began making imitations of the Golden Cherubim of the Temple. He
transferred some festivals to other seasons and chose priest out of all the
tribes instead of the tribe of Levi. This unlawful worship found its peak and
became open idolatry to all when Ahab the King with his wife Jezebel
ascended to the throne of Israel. Jezebel, the ungodly woman of Sidon, managed
with the approval of her husband King Ahab to issue an edict, declaring that
the official religion of the house of Israel was to be the worshiping of
idolatrous god Baal. She maintained and supported the prophets of Baal
and forced all citizens to worship the idols, instead of the one true God the
God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Idols and temples were erected every where.
Evil times cover the whole land. All worshipers of the true God were persecuted
with fire and sword.
THE
PROPHETIC DENUNCIATION
Among
these awful times Elias, the man of God, as if dropped from heaven in the
middle of such political and religious unrest stood up to Ahab and
Jezebel saying.” And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead,
said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lived, before whom I stand, not the
dew nor rain these years, but according to my word” (I Kings,17:1). Indeed no
dew or rain fell upon the earth for three years. The drought was so intense the
land begun to dry out. The animals were dying all over from lack of food and
water and people suffered from not having water to drink. Elias himself
suffered in the common calamity among with the people near the brook of
Cherith, surviving only from the little water coming from the brook, and food
brought to him by the ravens morning and night. “And the ravens brought him
bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening. (I Kings,
17:6) For twelve months Elijah stayed by the brook, in solitude and prayer.
Eventually, because of the extended drought, the brook dried up. At last,
water was no longer to be found. Elias having no water to drink was forced to
seek new place to stay.
ELIAS
STAYING AT ZAR-EPHATH
In the
mist of the severe drought the Lord appears again to him saying: “Get
thee to, Zar’ephath and dwell there: behold I have commanded a widow woman to
sustain thee” (I Kings, 17:2-9). At Zar’ephath, Elijah stayed with the widow
and her son for two years and some months. While he was there the son of the
widow died and the prophet with the power of prayer miraculously raised the
boy. (I kings,17:17-24)
ELIAS AND
OBADIAH
The
times were gone by with no repentance or changes in the mind of the
king or his wife Jezebel. The Lord again, who cares for his people, but never
forgets those who believe in Him, appeared to Elijah saying: go back to Ahab
and declare to him that the true god is ready to prove to his people. “go show
thyself to Ahab; and I will send rain (I Kings 18:1) and summoned him, that the
Lord is about to show many wonders and mighty deeds, that he is to prove to his
people that He, is God alone and no one else, and Baal is to be overthrown. On
his way to the King's palace Elijah met Obadiah, the king’s servant and said to
him “now go tell thy lord, behold, Elijah is here” (I Kings 18:16) and Obadiah
did as Elijah told him and Ahab went to meet Elijah. When Elijah saw King
Ahab said
to him “Now therefore”, said Elijah authoritatively, like a representative of
God, “O King! Send, and gather unto the Mount of Carmel four hundred and fifty
prophets of Baal, and four hundred prophets of the goddess of Ashram, who are
supported by Queen Jezebel, and have them sacrifice to their gods and ask their
god to send fire and burn the sacrificial offering. I, on the other hand, will
sacrifice to the true God of Israel, and ask the same. Whichever God consumes
the sacrificial offering, I want you to declare to the nation as being the true
God. ( I Kings. 18 ;17-20 )
MOUNT
CARMEL
Ahab, as
was told by Elijah, went up to Mount Carmel. There he summoned the Prophets of
Baal 450 in number and ordered them to pray to Baal and prove to the people
that Baal is the true God. The prophets of Baal sacrificed and prayed all day
long asking their god to send fire , but to no avail. From morning to
night they were praying and saying “Hear us ,O Baal, hear us. And there was no
voice” (I Kings 18:20-29). Then came the time for Prophet Elias to do his part.
Elias took twelve stones one for each of the twelve sons of Jacob to whom the
Lord had given the name Israel. With these stones he rebuilt the altar
for the worship of the Lord. He then prayed saying: “O Lord, the God of Abraham
Isaac and Jacob, prove that our God is the God of Israel. I m your servant and
I have done all these at your command” (I Kings 18.30-39). Immediately the Lord
sends fire down and burned up the sacrifice. And the
people immediately shouted “The Lord is God; The Lord alone is God” (I Kings
18:39).
Ahab
having no other choice ordered according to the word of Prophet Elias the
prophets of Baal to be slaughtered. Immediately clouds appeared in the
sky and the heavens opened and rain came down and the drought ended.
ANGEL
VISIT UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE
Prophet
Elias following the event at mountain Carmel, left and walked all day. When
evening came he slept under a tree and the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in
his sleep saying: “arise eat and drink for you have along way to go” and
Elias did as the Lord commanded him. Morning came an Elias left and
walked for forty days and forty nights and came by the mountain Horeb. At the
mountain he found a cave and stayed. And Lord appeared again to him saying.
Leave the mountain and go to Damascus to anoint Hazael as King of Syria
and Jehu as king of Israel and Elisa to be your successor to carry on the
prophetic mission. (I Kings, 19:1-17) Elias did as the Lord commanded him.
NABOTH'S
VINEYARD
Elias
raised his voice once again against King Ahab in the case of Naboth's vineyard.
King Ahab wanted to acquire the vineyard of Jabot, who did not want to sell it.
Jezebel initiated a trial in which she sentenced Nabuthai Jabot to death on a
fabricated charge. Following the execution of Naboth, Ahab took
possession of the vineyard. Elijah openly accused Ahab as a
murderer and robber announcing a doom to the royal house (I Kings
21:17-24).
THE
ASCENTION OF PROPHET ELIAS
The last
moments of Elias are not as one could imagine. Elias, according to the Holy
Scriptures, did not die. He was ascended to heaven in whirlwind as Elisha
saw with his own eyes. The two men as they were passing on together in the
country beyond Jordan and while they engaged in holy conversation, “behold,
there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both
asunder; and Elijah went up by whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings, 2:11).
CONCLUSION
The prophetic
mission of the prophet lasted fifteen years and made a profound impression on
the imagination of the people of Israel. Later generations
remembered Elijah and expected him to return as the forerunner of
the coming day of the Lord.(Mal. 4:5)
In the New
Testament. People during the times of Jesus thought He was Elijah himself
(Matt.16:14, Luke.8) Others thought John the Baptist was Elijah (John 1:21). At
the transfiguration of Jesus, Elijah appeared together with Moses.
(Matt.17:3-4;Mark.9:4-5).
Our Church
honors his name day on July 20th
Written
by: Rev. Dr. Nicholas J. Pilavas, Protopresbyter,
Pastor of
the Greek Orthodox Church of
Prophet
Elias. Yonkers, NY
2011
