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Elijah & Elisha
 I Kings 17 – II Kings 12 Historical setting:
Time: Sometime between 875-797 B.C.
Place: The Nation of Israel
Persons: Elijah and Elisha and inhabitants of the Nation of Israel
Introduction: King Ahab was the tenth last king to reign in the land of Israel before God brought His promised judgment on the land, for their evil ways. In 722, about one hundred and fifty years after Ahab, the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell, and God allowed the people to be carried away into captivity. Approximately one hundred thirty-five years after that, 586 B.C., the southern portion of Israel, the land of Judah, followed Northern Israel's fate. God used many prophets during this period to proclaim the word of judgment to come on the nation, unless they repented. We all recognize these familiar names: Isaiah, Hosea, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Amos, Nehemiah, and Jonah, to name a few. And at the first of this string of prophets, whom I have named in no particular order, were Elijah and Elisha. It is around these two that our story unfolds. Elijah: The title, "Elijah the Tishbite" probably came from his birthplace in Gilead, east of the Jordan River, a high plateau, fit chiefly for grazing. During the reign of one of Israel's most evil kings, King Ahab, rugged Elijah the Tishbite, the "storm-king" of Israel, comes on to the scene without any introduction. "And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab.. "As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew or rain these years, except at my word." It wasn't bad enough that Ahab did evil in the sight of the Lord, but to make matters worse, he married Princess Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidonia, the center of Baal worship. Ahab accepted the worship of the false god, Baal, and dragged Israel down the path of idol worship as well, forsaking the God of Israel, and breaking the First Commandment: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" Exodus 20:3. God used Elijah to carry His message of judgment to Ahab and Jezebel. I Kings 17- II Kings 2.  Elisha was a farmer's son. His father was Shaphat, from the rich agricultural region near the Jordan River. He was well educated in the ways and customs of city and court, having been given all the advantages of his day. He was a diligent worker, and when Elijah found him, he was ploughing his father's field. Although Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha, it did not change Elisha into Elijah. Each of these prophets had individual identities. Elijah was a prophet of wrath and judgment. He was likened to a "burning meteor." Elisha, whose name meant, "God is salvation," was "like a rainbow" announcing salvation to the people in darkness. No one thought a request too small to ask him for advice. The ordinary people knew him. They had often seen him in the field behind the plough and harrow. He was their equal. But even kings were not ashamed to go to him for advice. He was a man among men. A people's prophet. The stories that are about to unfold are about these two prophets, Elijah and Elisha, whose ministry covered approximately 80 years. 
Each page has a link that will carry you to the next chapter. You will always be able to return to this index page to take up again where you left off...Sit down. Relax. Enjoy.© Helen Dowd (some information gleaned {not copied} from "The Chosen Word" copyright 1915 The John A. Hertel Co.)
Story 1 The Raven's Food Package
Story 2 The Widow's Last Cake
Story 3 Contest of Fire
Story 4 A Little Cloud--A Great Rain
Story 5 Elijah Hears God Whisper
Part II – Elisha - "The Refreshing Rainbow"
Story 6 Enter Elisha
Story 7 A Fiery Farewell
Story 8 Sons Saved from Slavery
Story 9 Faith Rewarded – Tested - Renewed
Story 10 Gehazi Gets Greedy
Story 11 The Invisible Army
Story 12 A Famine and A Feast
Story 13 Thirty Years of Turmoil
Story 14 A Tired Old Prophet Goes Home
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