Old Testament · character

Elijah

The prophet of fire — who stood against idols, and grew weary.

In the northern kingdom of Israel, where Baal worship abounded, Elijah stood alone to defend God. He is remembered for the contest on Mount Carmel and the "gentle whisper."

The Contest on Mount Carmel

Elijah faced 450 prophets of Baal in a contest to see which god would answer with fire. When God answered by sending fire from heaven, the people turned back (1 Kings 18).

Exhaustion and Restoration

Right after this great victory, gripped by fear at a threat, he fled to the wilderness and "asked to die." Instead of rebuking him, God cared for him with food and sleep, and came to him again not in a storm but in a "gentle whisper" (1 Kings 19).

Related verses

1 Kings 18:21"If the Lord is God, follow him."
1 Kings 19:12The "gentle whisper" — God coming to a weary prophet.