Author: cackywalker@yahoo.com

Elijah Taken to Heaven, Part II, 2 Kings Chapter 2

Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched them from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided and the two of them went across on dry ground!

When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.”

And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”

“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, you won’t.”

As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, dray by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father!I see the chariots and the charioteers of Israel!” As they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress.

Elisha picked up Elijah’t cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan Rover. He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across. (vv. 7-14, NLT)

Elijah Taken to Heaven, Part 1, 2 Kings Chapter 2

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Bethel.”

But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, and you yourself live, I will never leave you!” So they went down together to Bethel. The group of prophets from Bethel cam to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?”

“Of course I know, Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.”

Then Elijah said to Elisha, ” Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Jericho.”

But Elisha replied again, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went to Jericho together.

Then the group of prophets from Jericho came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?”

“Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.”

Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to the Jordan River.”

But again Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together. (vv. 1-6, NLT)

Naboth’s Vineyard, Part III, 1 Kings Chapter 21

“So, my enemy, you have found me!” Ahab exclaimed to Elijah.


“Yes,” Elijah answered, “I have come to you because you have sold yourself to what is evil in the Lord’s sight. So now the Lord says, ‘I will bring disaster on you and consume you. I will destroy every one of your male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel! I am going to destroy Jeroboam son of Nebat and the family of Baasha son of Ahijah, for you have made me very angry and have let Israel to sin.’ ”

“And regarding Jezebel, the lord says ‘Dogs will eat Jezebel’s body at the plot of land in Jezreel.'”

“‘The members of Ahab’s family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures.'”

(No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. His worst outrage was worshiping idols just as the Amorite had done-the people whom the Lord had driven out from Israel ahead of the Israelites.”)

But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning.

Then another message from the Lord came to Elijah: ‘Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. I t will happen to his sons: I will destroy his dynasty.” (vv. 20-29, NLT)

Naboth’s Vineyard, Part II, 1 Kings Chapter 21

So she [Jezebel] wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and other leaders of the town where Naboth live. In her letters, she commanded: “Call the citizens together for fasting and prayer, and give Natboth a place of honor. And then seat two scoundrels across from him who will accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then take him out an stone him to death.” (vv. 8-10, NLT)

So he [Naboth] was dragged outside the town and stoned to death. The town leaders then sent word to Jezebel, “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

When Jezebel heard the news, she said to Ahab, “You know the vineyard Naboth wouldn’t sell to you? Well, you can have it now. He’s dead!” So Ahab immediately went down to the vineyard of Naboth to claim it.

But the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He will be a Naboth’s vineyard in Jezrell, claiming it for himself. Give him this message: ‘This is what the Lord says,: Wasn’t it enough that you killed Naboth? Must you rob him, too? Because you have done this , dogs will lick your blood at the very place where they licked the blood of Naboth!'” (vv. 15-19, NLT)

Naboth’s Vineyard, Part I, 1 Kings Chapter 21

Now there was a man named Naboth from Jezreel, who owned a vineyard in Jezreel beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. One day Ahab said to Naboth, “Since your vineyard is so convenient to my palace, I would like to buy it to use as a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or if you prefer, I will pay you for it.”

But Naboth replied, “THe Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance that was passed down by my ancestors.”

So Ahab went home angry and sullen because of Naboth’s answer. The king went to bed with his face to the wasll and refused to eat!

“What’s the matter?” his wife Jezebel asked him. “What’s made you so upset that you’re not eating?”

I asked Naboth to sell me his vinard or trade it, but he refused!” Ahab told her.

“Are you the king of Israel or not?” Jezebel demanded. “Get up and eat something, and don’t worry about it. I’ll get you Naboth’s vineyard!” (vv 1-7, NLT)

The Call of Elisha, 1 Kings Chapter19

So Elijah went and found Elisha som of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elijah was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and this I will go with you!”

Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.”

So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire and to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they. all ate. Then Elisha went with Elijah as his assistant. (vvl 19-21, NLT)

The Lord Speaks to Elijah, 1 Kings Chapter 20

But the Lord said to Elijah, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with You, torn down Your altars, and killed every one of Your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

“Go out and stand before Me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, an a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, there was fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with You, torn down Your altars, and killed every one of Your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimishi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as My prophet. Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!” (vv. 9b-18, NLT)

Elijah Prays for Rain, 1 Kings, Chapter 18

Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a might rainstorm coming!”

So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.

Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.”

The servant went and looked, then returned and said, “I didn’t see anything.”

Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh tine, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.”

Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry, to Ahab and tell him , ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!'”

And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heave wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his coat into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel. (vv. 41-46, NLT)

The Contest at Mount Carmel, Part II, 1 Kings Chapter 18

Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!” They crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the twelve tribes of Israel, and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons. He piled the wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood.

Then he said, “Fill four large jugs with water, and pur the water over the offering and the wood.”

After they had done this, he said, “Do the same ting again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time.” So they did as he said, and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.

At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, prove today that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that You, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to Yourself.”

Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord-He is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”

Then Elijah commanded, “Seize all these prophets of Baal. Don’t let a single one escape!” So the people seized them all, and Elijah took them down to the Kishon Valley and killed them there. (vv. 30-40, NLT)

The Contest at Mount Carmel, Part 1, Kings Chapter 18

So Abab summoned all the people of Israel and prophets to Mount Carmel. Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waiver, hobbling between to opinions? IF the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. (vv. 29-21, NLT)

Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal,” You go first, for there are may of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood.”

So they prepared one of the bulls and placed on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” They danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.

About noontime Elijah began mocking them , “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, ‘for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be awakened.!

So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out. They raved all afternoon until the the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response. (vv. 25-29, NLT)