Five Stories From Elijah’s Life
"Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth." 1 Kings 17:24
Elijah was a very bold prophet, capable of preaching the sweetest of the LORD’s Gospel comforts. Elijah was sent to witness to a woman in the Phoenician village of Zarephath, in the distant north, the land of the Gentiles. Elijah preached the LORD’s faithfulness, His power over crisis, even His power over death itself. In giving all glory to God and His holy name, Elijah, by the LORD’s grace, had his prophetic words confirmed. He prophesied that the widow’s near-empty supply of oil and flour (enough ingredients to make one more meal for her and her son before they died) would not run out until the drought was over.
The gracious LORD was not done with His Gospel witness to the widow. As her trials grew more intense, her son died from a terrible illness. Her son’s passing grieved her and struck her with guilt to the point of saying to the prophet Elijah, “What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?" Faced with the grim reality of what sin has brought into the world – death – she has nothing but a stricken heart. Then the prophet does something miraculous. By God’s power, Elijah raises her son from the dead! God has power over death! He has, in fact, destroyed death forever. Jesus, the God whom Elijah served, came from heaven to destroy death upon the cross and through His empty grave. He gave life to the boy, and He has given life, eternal life, to you and me.
Moreover, the woman says in response to this miracle that the word of the LORD, delivered by His prophets, written in His Holy Word, is true. It brings to us the sure promises of sins forgiven and life everlasting.
He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.
The Lutheran Hymnal 200:7