The Days of Elijah, Part 1

“The Prophet Elijah in the Desert”, Eastern Orthodox icon (end of 14th Century) (PD-Art l Old-70)

This Bible Study will focus on Scriptural passages with bearing on the present day.  Some are prophetic.  Others are not, but speak to our circumstances, as if penned yesterday.  All offer us assurance and encouragement, in God’s own words.

These are the days of Elijah [1]

“ ‘But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land…’ ” (Luke 4: 25).

Jesus, Himself, spoke of the “days of Elijah,” a time of drought lasting over three years with severe famine the result.  We are not living in the days of the prophet, Elijah, literally speaking.  For many, however, ours is a time of hardship and testing.

Christianity is often ridiculed, and persecution not far off.

While there is widespread drought in our nation as of this writing, the drought for us is as much spiritual as physical.   We are bombarded by information, while the concept of truth has been virtually lost.  Though few realize it, we are famished for the Word of God.

Ultimately, Elijah brought rain and revival.  Christians long for the quickening of the Holy Spirit, a downpour turning this beloved nation of ours once again toward God.

Declaring the word of the Lord

“…[T]he word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward’ ” (Gen. 15: 1).

The “word of the Lord” is a phrase used consistently throughout Scripture to designate communication from God.  Patriarchs and prophets received their instruction in this way, then conveyed God’s message to His people.

As Christians in this modern day and age, we, too, have a responsibility to declare the word of the Lord, the Gospel message.  This is the Great Commission (Mark 16: 15).  Our audience is the world which is in desperate need of Salvation.

And these are the days of Your servant, Moses

“Then Moses said to the Lord, ‘O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue’ ” (Ex. 4: 10).

Despite our inadequacies, we stand on the verge of great things.  This is not greatness as the world esteems it.  Rather, this is the greatness of the Lord.  His power is beyond measure, His love beyond imagining.  And we have the enormous privilege of being His servants, His adopted children, and making Him known to the world.

Like Moses, we seek to liberate – not just from the bondage of an earthly ruler, but from the slavery of sin.  This is accomplished not by any merit of our own, but by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Righteousness being restored

“ ‘I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city’ ” (Is. 1: 26).

We look around us, and see the effects of evil everywhere.  Our economy has been damaged and our savings decimated by the greed of a few.  Our very system of government is being perverted by the enormous sums of money thrown at it to buy influence.

And though these are days of great trial

“…[I]n a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy…” (2 Cor. 8: 2).

By the grace of God, in a great trial there is, nonetheless, joy.  We cling to Him and to one another, grateful for things we once took for granted.

Of famine and darkness and sword

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age…” (Eph. 6: 12).

Darkness is advancing.  Ignorance is on the increase.  Drugs and violence are widespread.  Terrorism is a constant threat, evil decked out as devotion.

We yearn for a better time, a time that never existed short of Paradise.  But we hold fast to hope, in the certain knowledge that one day Jesus will return for us.

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