Week 17: Elijah, a Man like Us 1 Kings 12 thru 2 Kings 13

James 5: 16b-18 The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.  Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.  Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

(Also Jesus, refuting Satan in Matt 4:4) Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. (Also Jesus, refuting Satan in Matt 4:4)

Elijah and “The Word of the Lord” Elijah comes on the scene and confronts Ahab 1 Kings 17:2 “The word of the Lord came to him, “Hide yourself by the Brook Cherith 1 Kings 17:8 “The word of the Lord came to him, “ go to Zaraphath …” 1 Kings 18:1 “The word of the Lord came to him, IN THE THIRD YEAR, “ go show yourself to Ahab …” Humorous story with Obadiah Mt. Carmel 1 Kings 18:45-46 “And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.”

Elijah and “The Word of the Lord” 1 Kings 19 – Jezebel threatens the anointed prophet His fear, depression, and rejection In the cave at Horeb – “The mountain of God” The wind, the earthquake, the fire The still small voice Commission to anoint Kings and his successor

The Call of Elisha Elijah cast his mantle on Elisha while he was plowing Elisha burns his plow, and sacrifices the oxen “He went after Elijah, and ministered to him” 2 Kings 2 – The translation of Elijah, and the double portion on Elisha Elisha’s first miracle – crossing Jordan and healing the water of Jericho The mocking children eaten by bears

The Ministry of Elisha 2 Kings 3:11-12 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may enquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the Lord is with him. 2 Kings 3:13-20 Elisha speaks the word of the Lord concerning the water that was needed for the armies and their animals 2 Kings 6 The miracle of the axe head

Elisha’s servant Gehazi The Shunamite woman Naaman – Gehazi’s greed and deception 2 Kings 5:26 “Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?” Gehazi struck with leprosy and did not inherit the blessing from Elisha Elisha’s double portion anointing went with him to the grave 2 Kings 13: 20-21

Amos 8:11  “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord,     “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water,     but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.