At the time the Lord brought Elijah on the scene, the kings of Israel and Judah were in serious trouble with the Lord. Their many years of worshiping Baal and golden calves, listening to Jezebel, and killing the prophets was catching up to them. Their earthly kingdoms were coming to an end, and the Lord would move quickly when he moved. What appeared to be harmless details to them was, in fact, rebellion in the sight of God. While the kings served the gods of this world, Elijah and Elisha did not. Rather, they were dedicated only to the Word of the Lord, and if the Lord didn’t speak directly to them, they didn’t move at all. When they did move, it was with the power and authority of the Lord, resulting in the dramatic calling down of fire from heaven, a three-year drought, people raised from the dead, and many other miraculous events. But did Elijah and Elisha take any glory? No, Elisha didn’t even accept Naaman’s token of appreciation – so completely was he relying only on the Lord’s provision. The lives of Elijah and Elisha, as well as the corrupt lives of the kings, serve as important lessons for us today. In addition, there are many prophecies in 1 and 2 Kings that are now being fulfilled. In fact, the entire account is filled with living parables that are relevant for today. The last Chapter of 1 Kings ends with the prophetic ministry facing serious jeopardy. The first Chapter of 2 Kings opens with an awesome supernatural vindication of God's prophet. Even Elijah seems to have been unaware of exactly when the timeline went past a tipping point into a new day in which the true prophets were never forced to retreat. We seem to be approaching a similar tipping point today. Your own life will be changed forever if you heed the truth that the Lord reveals to you in this book.

The prophets Elijah and Elisha were extraordinary servants whom God used to call his people back to faithfulness in Old Testament Israel. Their fearless prophecies and remarkable miracles reveal the holy God who punishes sin and yet extends grace to the undeserving. Though they lived in a far different time and place, Elijah and Elisha--prophets with power--have much to teach us today.

Knowledge is power; therefore knowing God is incredibly powerful. However, learning to recognize God's personality is life changing. Each chapter of "Discovering God Through Elijah and Elisha: Bible Study Guide," is designed to demonstrate how to recognize God's influence. The actor hidden in every Bible scene is God Himself. While studying 1 Kings 16 through 2 Kings 10, the reader learns to automatically look for God's character, values, and personality. Spiritual growth in faith, prayer, worship, and obedience result as the explorer discovers God. Special themes in the book include: How do I know if God is speaking to me? Does faith mean going against common sense? Why don't I see God at work in my life and the lives of my friends? Can I really trust God to meet my needs? How can God be both loving and wrathful? How can I choose the best version and Bible style for me? This study guide has something for every Christian. The new believer is trained to interpret scripture using other Bible passages. As the reader discovers the similarity between John the Baptist and Elijah, then compares Elisha with Joshua and Jesus, suddenly obscure Old Testament stories become understandable. Through practice the novice can find and apply biblical principles to the issues they are facing. Even those who have studied scripture for decades often confuse Elijah and Elisha. Not only are their names similar, but these prophets lived during a difficult time in biblical history. Judah and Israel had kings with similar names. Jayna not only explains the significance of each event, but also describes the culture, so that each verse is clear. The style of this book is like the workbooks written by Beth Moore and Henry Blackaby; however, there is no video to watch. Although this Bible Study is designed for an individual to meditate on scripture and write his or her answers inside the book, there are two chapters providing instructions as to how to use the book as a group Bible study. Often the thought-provoking questions will lead to a lively discussion. For an example, of how the book draws modern application from the Old Testament, CHAPTER 37 "Don't Waste Your Time on a God Substitute" reads: "When something happens in your life do you immediately call your spouse, or text a friend? When you need advice do you call your mom, search in Google, or go to Facebook? When you want prayer, do you email the prayer chain, or do you pray? If God isn't your first contact, you can learn a lot from this Shunammite mother." Jayna uses her own life experiences throughout the book to demonstrate how biblical principles are still relevant in every life. Learn to love and appreciate God as you discover Him in the lives of these miracle working men, and dedicated women. God has a mantle for you. Wear it well.

There is a marked resemblance between our time and that of Elijah and Elisha. Theirs was a time of judgment; ours is as well. But there is a deeper resemblance. Their day was an age of syncretism, of radical compromise between the worship of the Lord and Baal worship. The two had been blended together to make one religion, so that a refusal to see the necessity for uncompromising religion marked Israel. Israel rarely denied the Lord or professed open apostasy. Rather, it pursued a course of religious syncretism, using the name of the Lord but absorbing with their religion whatever other faith was expedient for them. Thus, they were not open pagans, but pagans who practiced their unbelief under cover of the Lord's name. Syncretism is again our problem. Numerous forces, powers, and persons are accorded sovereignty over man. Today, Baal-worship is again prevalent in the name of the Lord. Humanistic statism is easily and readily submitted to by churchmen: children are placed in humanistic state schools, given into the hands of the enemies of God, and people are only indignant if you condemn this practice. The major concern of most church members is not the Lord's battles, nor the urgency to make a stand against compromise, but, “How can I best enjoy life?” The similarity does not end there. Elijah and Elisha's day was one of prosperity, a false prosperity that was largely the product of inflation. Our age, too, has been marked by an inflationary prosperity, and the loosening of moral and religious standards is one result. People want things, not qualities or virtues. This mindset demands more material wealth for men and diminishes the need for moral and educational performance and excellence. It is now a virtue to tolerate evil and to be intolerant of any material lack for man. In Chariots of Prophetic Fire, R J. Rushdoony challenges the Church of our day to resist compromise and the temptation of expediency, and realize that the power today does not lie in politics or governments but in God's men of faith.

Elijah and Elisha are among the earliest and most influential prophets of Israel. They were both used to call Israel and Judah back to the Lord. Yet, their impact extended far beyond the boundaries of Israel in both space and time, impacting other nations and later times. Their stories form the framework of 1 and 2 Kings. Additionally, their accounts also inform and shape later Jewish biblical and religious texts. Quite significantly, the Elijah-Elisha historical pattern plays an important role in the structure and substance of the texts of the Gospels. Important people are pictured against the background of these two key figures in Israel's history. Not only that, but the Elijah-Elisha narrative serves as part of the structure of key sections of the Gospels, themselves. Welcome to the adventure of exploring these key figures-- Elijah and Elisha--with Dr. Walter C. Kaiser. Enjoy!

The Bible and its preaching are for every generation urgent and indispensable, but they are especially urgent today. Within the preaching of Elijah and Elisha lie the possibilities and inspiration for the church to recover its voice in a way that is unfettered and unencumbered by old habits. It is the chance, and the responsibility, of this new voice to replicate in the present life of the church alternatives underway in the biblical text itself, to show that life "could be otherwise, " and to make it so. Considering these narratives canonically, Walter Brueggemann shows how the memories of Elijah and Elisha took on a quality and authority of lasting testimony. They exhibit a world profoundly open to the gifts, energies, and visions given by God. Brueggemann shows how such prophetic narratives summon listening Israel to a radical either/or decision, endlessly insisting that there are choices to be made that hold options for the world as otherwise.

The Contemporary Bible series covers the most essential stories and teachings of the Bible. Colorful and dramatically illustrated, the new series gives children an opportunity to experience inspiring accounts from the Bible.