“Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.’” (I Kings 17:1)

Elijah boldly charged into the royal court of Ahab; a warrior king bent on destroying the worship of the Creator God. He had no invitation from the king and no summons from the royal family. Why did he come?

Elijah was a man on a mission. He was sent by God. He had a message to deliver. This messenger walked past security as if they were not there. He feared nothing. Splendor, wealth, position, fame, and flattery could not entice him. He bravely approached the startled monarch and delivered his message without a bow, the customary greetings, or any gifts. His voice sounded like a trumpet call: “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” The ten-second message faithfully delivered, he left.

He exited as abruptly as he had entered. The whole court was in shock. Mouths agape, royal servants watched dumbfounded as the prophet simply walked away. The king was not accustomed to being addressed in that manner. By the time the king recovered his damaged composure, the messenger was nowhere to be seen.

Who was this Elijah? Was he born into the “right” family? Did he carry a last name that would demand respect? What do we know of him? Scripture paints a sparse picture of this man. “He was a hairy man with a leather girdle bound about his loins” (2 Kings 1:8). His name was “Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead...” (I Kings 17:1). His name meant “The Lord is my God.” He wore a mantle, or cloak, over his shoulders. See I Kings 19:19. That’s it.

We know his name, where he came from, that he was hairy, and what he wore. That list does not seem like a recipe for a remarkable man. Gilead was a mountainous region east of the Jordan River. Its name means “Heap of Witness.” Gilead is no Jerusalem, Bethlehem, or Jericho.

Though mentioned other places in Scripture, it is not a place with much name recognition. So what made Elijah stand out? The Scriptures say it all: “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand...” (I Kings 17:1). Elijah knew where he stood. He always stood in the presence of God. Elijah lived in awe of God. He spent time with God. He knew the majesty of the Eternal One, His might and power, His love and grace, and His wisdom and care. Because he spent time in the Presence of God, he did not cower in the presence of man.

Do you live in awe of God? Do you spend enough time alone with Him in His Word, the Scriptures, and in prayer that you are amazed by His character and His power?

Discover this God for yourself in the following Bible passages. Read through these texts carefully to see who this living God is throughout time: Psalm 23, 27:1, 32:7-8, 40:1-5, 46:1, 103, 104, 139

When we really come to know God for who He is, we stand in awe of Him. The more we discover about Him, the more there is to know. His character is flawless, His love incomparable, His timing impeccable, His care matchless. How can we break through our low ceiling in our knowledge and experience of knowing this God of the universe? We are being called young and old to discover that the God of Elijah still lives today! This God is calling us to rediscover Him and to live for Him fearlessly and faithfully now.

This is the time!

Don MacLafferty