The prophet Elijah was an example of what the gift of the fear of God (constancy, firmness, devotion) means, because it is only from a heart of flesh that men can relate to God. This prophet lived in a difficult time, when fidelity to the Lord was in crisis. The kingdom of Israel after the death of Solomon had been divided in two, the son of Solomon, Rehoboam reigned in Judah, and Jeroboam in the kingdom of Israel.
The Davidic dynasty according to the promise made by God to David was able to remain relatively stable and many kings were faithful to the law of the Lord. Instead the Kingdom of Israel fell into total chaos, to the point that all of Jeroboam's descendants were killed, just as the prophet Jehu had prophesied.
And Ahab was appointed as king of Israel, who married Jezebel, a woman of Sidonian origin who was a fan of Baal. The Lord's prophets saw her life threatened by Jezebel and Elijah was no exception. Elijah and his disciple Elisha had to face with determination the wave of paganism that was taking place in the Kingdom of Israel.
And so the Bible tells us that Elijah as a prophet challenged all the priests of Baal to demonstrate who was the true God on Mount Carmel, Elijah prepared his holocaust and the priests of Baal prepared theirs, and only Elijah's holocaust was consumed by fire. Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal and condemned them to extermination. Jezebel, aware of the facts, wanted to kill Elijah who had to flee.
Elijah arrived at Mount Horeb where he received a visit from the Lord, the prophet Elijah was before God, and that was the dialogue between them:
"And the word of the LORD came to him: ´What are you doing here, Elijah?´
He replied, ´I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only left, and now they are trying to kill me too.´" 1 Kings 19:9-10.
Elijah's determination to preach the law of the Lord never faded, and during his life, he had to endure very difficult tests. The fear of God always accompanied Elijah and never abandoned him, this gift is the most important spiritual gift in the Old Testament. Like Elijah, all Christians are called to follow his example, of fidelity and love, and to fear God and not men.
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