The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

James 5:16b-18

One of my favorite Old Testament prophets is Elijah. He’s mentioned prominently in the Old Testament, but is also included in the New Testament through the life of John the Baptist and then during the Transfiguration of Christ. In particular, I admire his boldness when confronting the King Ahab and the 400 prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel when he asked the most appropriate question of the day –

And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.

1 Kings 18: 21

Elijah was willing to stand for what is good and just and right even though he was outnumbered by his opposition. Yet, he stood confidently, but not in his own strength. “If the LORD is God, follow him.” Take a few minutes to read the entire account from 1 Kings 18:20-40 and notice Elijah’s running commentary toward the false prophets.

But just like us, Elijah had his ups and downs. Almost immediately after the victory on Mt. Carmel he fled for his life after Queen Jezebel issued a death warrant of sorts. Elijah literally ran for his life. Have you experienced such highs and lows in your own faith?

He wasn’t perfect, but God thought enough of Elijah to catch him away in a “chariot of fire.” In spite of it all, he was a man just like us.