Elijah

Everything You’ve Got

Shema

Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord alone. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.

And Love your neighbor as yourself. Amen.

Shema – Hebrew

Shema Israel, Adonai elohenu – Adonai echad

Ve’ahavta et Adonai eloeikahB’khol levavkahUve’khol naphshekahUve’khol m’odekahVe’ahavta le’reacha Kamocha, Amen

Elijah• Elijah means: Adonai is God• Elijah possibly scolds Ahab on his own– Prophesies based on Torah, Deut. 11:16-17

• God told him to flee to Kerith Ravine– Drink from the brook, ravens will bring food– Humbling to Elijah to be cared for like this– Elijah’s words have consequences on real people

• Elijah lives with widow at Zarephath– Have enough for 3 small rolls– Jar returns to that level each day

Confrontation at Mt. Carmel

• Elijah repeats challenge of Joshua– Joshua 24:15, I Kings 18:21– waver-word for dance– Water on the sacrifice – custom to wave in front of

your god what you want

Elijah

Mt. CarmelTough hike – 4 ½ miles longs and 2200 feet up

What does it take to be Elijah?

• Elijah climbed it 2 times-up and down in a day• Taunted all day• Worshiped and won the challenge• Slaughtered the prophets of Baal and Asherah• Ran a marathon faster than horses• All on 1 biscuit a day• God wants everything we have – total

commitment

Elijah’s Community

• Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah• No one stands up for him– He is scared and flees– Over 150 miles to Beersheba

Goes into the desert and gives up

Mountain of God• God strengthens Elijah for the task ahead• Elijah travels over 400 miles to Mt. Horeb– 40 days/40 nights – pattern for Jesus

• God shows himself to Elijah– Not in the hurricane– Not in the earthquake– Not in the inferno– In a gentle whisper – intimate relationship• Elijah knew it immediately

• Change your view of what power is

What is Power?

• Not controlling the weather• Not confronting and killing opponents• Not in any traditional ideas of power

• It’s in intimate relationship with Adoni.• This is done in community– God builds Elijah’s support system

• Still not finished• 500 + miles to finish task

Next week

• Fall of Israel and Judah