Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-03

superhuman strength, ran before Ahab,
to Jezreel. that he might conduct him
into the city before the rain the rapidly
rising river should make the valley an
impossible bog From Jezreel he fed,
and we next see him near Beer-sheba,
under a juniper tree. wishing to die;
he is fed miraculouslys and in the
strength Of this food. went 40. days and
20 nights on his journey to Mount Ho-
reb Here God spoke TO him in stin
small voice, and told him to anoint a
new king of Israel, new king of Syria.
and Elisha to be prophet In his stead.
which three men were to be instruments
in Gods hands for destroying the house
Of Ahab for his forsalxing God. From
Abel Meho-lah accompanied by Elisha
from this time on). he went toward Jez-
reel where ne suddenly meets Ahab
again on his way to take the vineyard
Of Naboth. The curse which he pro-
nounced against Ahab for his continued
sin was stayed for a time, through the
mercy OF God. became Ahab repented,
80 that II did not come in his time, but
in the days of his son.
some time AFTER this, Ahabs son had
succeeded 10 the throne. and having
fallen out OF his second story window
had sent messages TO Enron. to enquire
OF the idol Baalzebub whether ne
should get well or not. Elijah met the
messengers, and denounced their lord
for continuing in idolatry instead OF
seeking jehovah He causes them to re-
turn with the news that the king should
not recover The king sent successive
lv three captains to arrest Elijah. Two
companies being destroyed by fire., the.
lives OF the third were saved only
through the prayer of their captain. Eli
iah submitted himself to them, and
presented himself before the king to
repeat his message
His work is nearly done. Near Gil
gal IN Israel, he is warned that the end
is near Passing by Bethel where ne
had established college for the proph-
cts, he comes to the fords OF JORDAN
where John afterwards baptized Jesus,
ana having rarted the waters with his
mantle, passed over to the other side,
and was carried up TO heaven In
chariot OF fire casting his mantle on
Elisha as he assembled. AS you shall
study his life in more detail in the
coming weeks, note these Characteristics
OF this man He was coura geous, rug
ged. at times rough, unrelenting In his
attitude TO the truth as he saw II. He
had a very clear conception of what
Israel should do in relation to God, and
was urgent in insisting upon their doing
that which was right. With all this he
was timed. easily discouraged. tender;
and from the first 10 the last is seen a
steady growth in the gentler qualities
that were dormant in his nature. If
law characterized the early part of his
life, love characterized the latter part.
ELIJAH CARED FOR.
During the three and half years Of
famine which Elijah predicted, and
which came in answer to his prayer,
R1wa ha WAS rrf
empt from the suffering which came
upon all by reason of the drought They
that seek the Lord shall not want any
good thing. They might desire many
things which they do not get but care
full analysis OF this viii show that they
we're desires which were not in accord
ance with seeking God
During the first year, probably he
stayed about the brook Cherith until
its water dried up. from the cessation
Of the rains Every morning and even
ing. food was brought TO him in mir
acplous way. The King James version
OF the Bible translates the Hebrew word
"yaven" and IL Is thought that these un-
clean birds were directed by God to
bring food 10 him. It has been thought
that for the lack Of grain, they destroy
ed other birds. and brought them to this
brook as a kind OF storehouse. and thus
Elijah secured. his food. There are
many reasons. however, for thinking
that the proper translation should be
either Arabfans. or Horebites. or
merchants. all OF which translations are
correct. A careful study inelines me TO
fthe opinion that Elijah secured his
food. they being constrained to sustain
him by the direct Influence of God. 1t
is none the less nniraculous and is
much more reasonable
When the waters of the brook dried
up God sent him many miles northeast
of where he waste a little town in
lheathen country under the dominion OF
the father Of Jezebel, and himself
priest of Baal The most unlikely per-
sons in the world to have sustained him
under stress of the famine was a widow.
land the prophets faith must have been
,sorely tried when he saw the widow out
side of the gate Of the city picking up
drift wood TO make fire, for this was an
evidence OF her extreme poverty. The
story OF the meal and oil which did not
fail through these years is a familiar