The Story of Elijah - Bible Stories for Kids

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The Story of Elijah

I Kings 16:29-33; 17:1; 18:19-36

There once was a prophet namedElijah. A prophet is someone chosenby God to speak His words. Aprophet's message is meant to bringpeople closer to God but theymust be willing to listen.

Elijah lived in a time much laterthan King Solomon. While Elijah wasalive the people of God wereworshiping other gods. Their king andqueen were called Ahab and Jezebel.These two were very bad. They hadled the people away from God.

Elijah finally challenged the priestsof Jezebel to a contest. He told KingAhab, "You were wrong to follow thisfalse god Baal. Send me eight hundredand fifty of the prophets who eat atyour wife's table. Then we will seewhose god is for real!"

The time had come for God towork a miracle so great, His peoplecould no longer doubt who the trueGod was. For the last three years, thepeople had heard their king and queensay, "Baal will bring you rain. Justwait and see."

No matter how much the people sacrificed and prayed, though, no rainhad fallen. That was because Baal wasa nothing god. Only the Lord Godcould bring rain to the thirsty land.He wanted to prove to the peoplethrough Elijah that He was the onlyGod they should worship.

Elijah told the priests of Baal to killa bull. They should lay it on the wood,but put no fire under it. He would dothe same with his bull and pile ofwood. "Call on your god to light a fireunder the bull, and I will call on myGod! The God who answers with fireis the real God."

All the people agreed that this was avery fair test. The priests of Baal triedand tried. They prayed from morninguntil noon, "Oh Baal, answer us." Butthere was no answer. They danced andshouted louder and louder. They

jumped around the altar. But stillthere was no answer. No fire burnedthe wood beneath their bull.

Then it was Elijah's turn. He hadfour large jars of water poured overthe altar. He did this three times untilthe trench was full. Then he pouredwater over his pile of wood, under thedead bull.

Elijah lifted his hands up towardheaven. He prayed calmly and slowly,so everyone could hear. "Oh Lord, theGod of Abraham, Isaac and Israel,show us that You are God. I am Yourservant. Answer me, Lord. Show thispeople that You are Lord. Pleaseanswer now with Your fire, I pray!"

Suddenly the fire of the Lord fellfrom heaven! All the wood and stonesand dust and parts of the bull were

eaten up by the fire. The heat wasterrible. It did not matter thateverything was wet, it caught fireanyway.

"Look! Fire is falling from the sky!"the crowds screamed. The peopleyelled, "The Lord, He is God!"

King Ahab's knees knockedtogether in fear. Elijah told him, "Go,eat and drink, for I hear the roar ofthunder."

Ahab did as he was told. He hurriedhome before anything more terriblehappened. Now that the people ofIsrael had said they believed the Lordwas God, Elijah hoped God wouldbring rain.

He told his servant to watch forclouds. At first there was nothing.Time after time Elijah told his servant

to go and look. Finally the servantsaid, "Look! There's a cloud the size ofa man's hand. It's coming up from thesea!"

Within moments, the sky grewblack with clouds and wind. Waterpoured down. The people raised theirhands and cheered. Finally, after threeyears, they had rain!

But God worked yet one moremiracle. As the rain gushed downfrom the clouds, Elijah started runningacross the countryside. He ran as fastas he could. The hand of the Lord wason Elijah! God's Spirit came uponElijah in power. He turned him into asuper-runner! He ran faster than thehorses pulling King Ahab's chariot. Heran faster than the wind. Elijah ran sofast, he arrived in Jezreel before theking did!

Elijah had become a very old man. Allhis life he tried to lead the people backto God. Elijah had a young friendnamed Elisha.

The time had come for Elijah to dieand go to heaven. Elijah had promisedElisha a double portion of his poweras prophet. Elisha had to make sure hewas watching, when God took Elijahto heaven.

While they were still walking andtalking together, a fiery chariot withblinding horses came between them! Itblazed like the sun, as bright as fire.Flaming horses pulled the chariot. Ahuge blast of wind swept Elijah off theground. He was taken up to heaven!It looked like a great whirlwind.When Elisha saw it, he cried out, "Myfather, my father!" But Elijah hadgone to be with God.

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