The compassionate Lord, who does not abandon those who have turned away from Him, seeks their redemption through His goodness and has sent His holy prophets to the Israelites to correct their wrongs and urge them to return to the revered worship of the true God, having been liberated from the snares of the enemy. Among these prophets, the most distinguished, Saint Elijah, was called to serve, and we will now recount his life. According to reliable accounts, the sacred prophet Elijah hailed from Gilead, situated across the Jordan, adjacent to Arabia, and his birthplace was the town of Thisbe, from which he derived the nickname Thisbite. Elijah came from a lineage of Aaron, with a father named Shebaiah. His birth was heralded by a vision granted to his father; at the moment of Elijah’s arrival into the world, his father beheld divine figures clad in white, communicating with the newborn, enveloping him in flames and nourishing him, even placing a fiery ember in his mouth. Struck with fear by this vision, Shebaiah journeyed to Jerusalem to relate his experience to the priests. One of the priests, wise and discerning, reassured him, stating, “Do not fear concerning your son, for this child will be a vessel of God’s grace. His words will ignite like fire, and his fervor for the Lord will be immense, leading a life that pleases God, and he shall judge Israel with fire and strength.” This foreshadowed Elijah’s future when he matured. Raised in a priestly household, Elijah received a devout education among the priests. From a young age, having dedicated himself to God, he cherished pure virginity, living as an angel of the Lord, unblemished in both soul and body. Delightful in meditative communion with God, he frequently withdrew to solitary places to engage in prolonged conversations with God, expressing fervent supplications, consumed with love akin to that of seraphim. God cherished Elijah, just as He loves all who love Him. Elijah experienced profound dialogue with the Lord, and through his angelic life, he gained remarkable confidence in his requests: everything Elijah sought from God was granted, as he had found favor with Him.
Witnessing the moral decay in Israel—where godless kings reigned, judges and elders acted unjustly, and the populace indulged in idolatrous practices and various vices without fear of God, even sacrificing their children to demons—while simultaneously observing the valiant worshippers of the true God suffering intense oppression, even unto death, the prophet's heart was deeply troubled. He mourned over the devastation of countless souls and lamented the severe persecution of the righteous, yet particularly he was grief-stricken over the dishonor inflicted upon the true God by wicked individuals, which only intensified his zeal for divine glory. Initially, Elijah prayed for sinners to turn back to repentance. However, recognizing that God requires a willing heart from those who stray and that the obstinate Israelites showed no desire for righteousness, Elijah, fervently protective of God's majesty and human salvation, requested God to bring temporary punishment upon the Israelites, hoping this would steer them away from their sinful ways. Understanding that the Lord is slow to anger in His humanity and long-suffering, Elijah, driven by his zeal for God, dared to ask for permission to execute judgment upon the sinners, believing they might not repent unless faced with human punishment.
The compassionate Lord, like a loving father, refrained from causing grief to His devoted servant, who had upheld His commandments faithfully; therefore, since Elijah was obedient and had not offended God, He honored the requests and prayers of His loyal servant. At that time, King Ahab governed Israel from Samaria, which at that point was the third capital of the kingdom (the first being Shechem in Ephraim and the second, Phers in Manasseh). Ahab had married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ephbaal of Sidon, who introduced the idol Baal, the deity of Sidon, into Israel. Ahab constructed a temple for Baal in Samaria and erected an altar there, worshipping Baal as a god and compelling the Israelites to bow to this idol. Through this, he proliferated idolatry throughout his kingdom more than any previous king of Israel, provoking the anger of the Lord God Most High. Elijah, filled with zeal for God, approached this king to rebuke him for his transgressions—that he had forsaken the God of Israel, worshipping demons, and leading his people astray. Witnessing Ahab’s indifference to his admonitions, Elijah decided to back his words with actions, pronouncing judgment upon the king and his people. He declared, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand: there shall be neither dew nor rain in these years, except at my word.” After making this proclamation, he departed from Ahab and, in accordance with Elijah's words, the heavens were shut, bringing drought—there was no rain or dew. This led to widespread famine, causing a complete failure in the supply of bread. As it happens, when a king sins, the wrath of God affects all his subjects, much like how the entire kingdom suffered due to David’s misstep.
The prophet Elijah anticipated that Ahab would recognize his faults through this punishment, repent, and lead his people back to the path of righteousness. However, seeing that Ahab, akin to Pharaoh, remained stubborn and instead delved deeper into evil while oppressing and even executing those who lived righteously, Elijah extended the punishment for another and then a third year. During this time, the warning given through Moses, the first prophet of God, came to fruition: “The heaven above you shall be brass, and the earth beneath you iron.” With the heavens closed, the earth could not produce moisture nor fruit. The climate became intolerably hot, and everything green—trees, flowers, and grass—perished; the fields and gardens lay desolate, devoid of cultivators and sowers. Springs ran dry, rivers shrank, and the land suffered from severe drought, leading to starvation among humanity, livestock, and fowl. This disaster affected not only Israel but also neighboring nations, illustrating how one city’s fire can consume surrounding homes. So, one nation’s rebellion stirred God’s wrath, affecting the entire world. Yet, this was not solely a display of God’s anger; it was also a manifestation of Elijah’s fervent desire for God's glory. In His infinite compassion, the Lord was prepared to send rain, but He held back to honor Elijah’s decree and ensure the prophet’s words remained true: “The Lord lives; from this time forth, no rain or dew shall fall upon the earth, except at my word.” Elijah, filled with fervent zeal for God, did not shield himself from the consequences, despite knowing that he too would feel the pangs of hunger as the earth's sustenance dwindled. He chose instead to suffer in silence than to show mercy to impenitent transgressors who harbored enmity against God.
