The Miracles of the Lord through Elijah

The Miracles of the Lord through Elijah

In 1 Kings 17 -2 Kings 1 we see many miracles performed by the Lord though Elijah. We are used to the word miracles always meaning happy occurrences, resurrections, the feeding of the 5000, healing and so forth. A close examination of Elijah shows that the miracles are not always happy. 

:

• 1 Kings 17:1 : there will not be dew or rain but according to my word, this was the start of a over 3 year drought
• 1 Kings 17:2–6 : the ravens feed Elijah bread and flesh morning and evening
• 1 Kings 17:8–16 : the widow woman feed Elijah the last of her oil and meal, her oil and meal never run out until the end of the drought
• 1 Kings 17:17–22: Elijah brought the son of the widow back to life
• 1 Kings 18: 31–38 The fire of the Lord consumed a burnt offering that had been soaked in water, and consumed all the water that had soaked it as well. 16 barrels of water
• 1 Kings 21:17–19; 22:34–38 :Elijah was given knowledge of events both past and future  which he did not see and could not know, the death of a man –and they are fullfilled
• 2 Kings 1:9–14 : Elijah destroys 2 regiments of 50 men and their Captains, saves the regiment of the Captain that bows before God

(b) Write a paragraph that gives examples from what you read of how the sealing keys can both bless and curse.

The Prophet Elijah held the keys and his obedience to the Lord allowed him to work miracles. This was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing Elijah was able to save the lives of the widow, her son and those she was able to help. A curse in that many of the miracles that Elijah wrought were responsible for the deaths of many people and brought loneliness to Elijah himself. The life of this Prophet was often a lonely existence filled with the memories of death and people who hated him. Elijah was faithful and as a reward was eventually translated directly to Heaven.

What doest thou here, Elijah?

Answering the Lord and Finding the Spirit

In 1 Kings Chapter 19 Jezebel finds out about Elijah facing down the prophets of Baal and killing them. Her response to the deaths of the false prophets is that she wants Elijah to be killed also.

When Elijah hears of this, he disappears into the wilderness, first stopping to sleep under a juniper tree a day’s journey in (v 4) and asked the Lord to die.  His request was not granted and an angel appeared to him and brought him food and water. After eating, he slept again. The angel returned with more food and bid him to eat warning him that the journey would be too great for him. The food the angel feed him sustained him for a 40 day and night journey to Horeb where he stayed in a cave and the Lord found him and asked him a question “What doest thou here, Elijah?”

The modern interpretation of this would be “What are you doing here Elijah?”

Elijah doesn’t get sulky or petulant. He is very self-aware

v 10 “And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

It is worth noting that jealous in this case means resentful or angry.  

Elijah who is the prophet who is to be speaking with the Children of Israel is angry with them for forsaking the covenants, destroying the alters, slaying the prophets until he is the only one left. I personally, don’t blame him a bit. I faced similar feelings just reading about it last semester over 3000 years later. The Lord tells Elijah to go stand on the mountain and sends the wind and earthquake against the mountain and then a fire. He shows Elijah how to find Him. That He is not in the wind, the earthquake or fire, He show Elijah the Holy Spirit –the still small voice.  What an amazing gift. And the Lord asks him again what he is doing here- it is remarkable the answer does not change. He is still angry with the Children of Israel, and the Lord sends Him back with instructions.

There are some great lessons in this interaction between Elijah and the Lord. Elijah fled in part because his life was in danger but mostly because he was angry. The people he was trying to teach who were supposed to be following the covenants were forsaking their oaths, destroying the alters and killing the prophets. When asked by the Lord he owned up to his anger and was rewarded with a great gift, learning of the Holy Spirit.

Many people today mistake the Spirit, and 1 Kings 19:11-12 show us without a doubt that the Holy Spirit is not in the wind, it is not in any natural disaster that befalls the earth be it fire, flood, or earthquake. The Holy Spirit is a still small voice. D&C 8:2-3 explains further that the spirit of revelation is the Holy Spirit, which will come upon you and dwell in your heart. The Spirit is in your heart. Some people feel it as a burning in the heart (Luke 24:31-32) others may feel it as a prickling (Acts 2:37) I personally have also felt goosebumps when in the presence of truth.  The Holy Spirit communicates with you, but you have to listen but without a doubt, He is within you not in the wind and fire.