I’m just starting a bible study on Elijah and excited to learn more about his life and his story. So often we only know the mountain top experiences, and don’t know or don’t spend much time thinking about the process it took to get to that point.

Elijah’s name means “Yahweh is God.” He was a prophet in the Old Testament. His work was to proclaim that “God still Lives!” to a nation overtaken by worshiping the idol Baal. The region was corrupt and idol worship was not only tolerated, but celebrated and even legislated.

Elijah was steadfast in proclaiming that God is the true God. His mountaintop story is a great story of a challenge between God and Baal. (Altar challenge – 1 King 18:22-40) God is victorious and many people turn toward God and away from Baal after witnessing the challenge. 450 prophets of Baal are killed on that day. God’s victory through Elijah’s faith. However the very next day Elijah finds himself fleeing for his life (1 King 19:1-8). He didn’t get to stay and soak in the mountaintop experience very long before the next challenge arose. But through it all he stands firm in proclaiming that there is only one true God and it is our God. Not the idols that were powerless to save the people.

God wants us to be his voice to the people. Are you willing to use your voice and your actions to share with others that God is alive and is the only true God? Will you proclaim that good news on your good days and your bad days? Will you extend grace to those having bad days and let them know that God cares for them regardless of what type of day they’re having or what circumstances surround them at that moment?