Week 12 - Israel's Great Prophet: Elijah

We are first introduced to Elijah in 1 Kings 17. God raised him up to announce impending judgment over Israel. Over the previous fourteen years, Ahab and his wife Jezebel had been heavy proponents of Baal worship throughout the northern kingdom. Ahab (874-852 BC) was the son of Omri, who according to secular history was one of the more notable kings of Israel. He is mentioned in the annals of history in other nations at the time as a good trade partner. Omri and Ahab did much evil in the sight of the Lord, 1 Kings 16.25-33. His wife Jezebel was the daughter of the king of Sidon. Theirs was a marriage of political convenience as Israel valued Sidon as an important trade partner. But spiritually, the nation was dead. Ahab’s window for self-judging and moving back toward God had passed.