THE LIFE OF ELIJAH

A.W. PINK
Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................2
1. The Prophet Himself..........................................................................4
2. Before Ahab.........................................................................................6
3. By the Brook........................................................................................9
4. At Zarephath .....................................................................................16
5. Facing Danger ...................................................................................29
6. Confronting Ahab.............................................................................31
7. On Carmel..........................................................................................37
8. Effectual Prayer.................................................................................47
9. Holiness Vindicated..........................................................................50
10. Welcome Rain....................................................................................52
11. In Flight ..............................................................................................58
12. Dejected..............................................................................................63
13. Refreshed............................................................................................65
14. In the Cave.........................................................................................68
15. His Recovery......................................................................................73
16. His Ordeal ..........................................................................................76
17. His Last Task .....................................................................................84
18. His Exit...............................................................................................90
Arthur W. Pink (1886-1952) wrote and published these chapters as a series of articles in his monthly magazine,
Studies in the Scriptures, from
January 1940 through December 1942. By God’s grace, Chapel Library republishes the Studies beginning with the
year 1932, available for
download worldwide, and mailing three issues each quarter by free subscription in North America. We also print
many books and booklets
gleaned from articles in the Studies. These also may be ordered from our catalog in North America, or downloaded
from our website worldwide
without charge.
2 The Life of Elijah

INTRODUCTION
1 Kings 17:1 – 2 Kings 2:11
The office which Elijah filled supplies an important key to an understanding of the times in which he lived
and the character of
his mission. He was a prophet, in fact one of the most remarkable pertaining to that divine order. Now
there is a real and marked
difference between a servant of God and a prophet of God, for while all His prophets are servants yet not
all of His servants are
prophets. Prophecy always presupposes failure and sin. God only sent forth one of His prophets in a time
of marked declension and
departure of the people from Himself. As this is not generally known, we propose to labour the point and
furnish Scripture proofs
of our assertion. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy: whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,
as unto a light which shineth
in a dark place” (2Pe 1:19): that expresses the general principle.
How many of our readers can recall the very first prophecy recorded in Holy Writ? Well, it is found in, “I
will put enmity between
thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise
his heel” (Gen 3:15).
And when was that initial prophecy given? Not while our first parents walked in obedience to and
fellowship with the Lord God, but
after they had sinned against Him and broken His commandments. Let this be duly noted and carefully
pondered, for like the first
mention of anything in the Scriptures, it is of deep moment, intimating the nature and design of all
subsequent prophecy. This
initial prediction, then, was not furnished by God while the original bliss of Eden obtained, but after it had
been rudely shattered. It
was supplied after mankind had rebelled and apostatized.
And now a harder question: How many of our readers can name the first prophet of God mentioned in the
Scriptures? In order
to find the answer we have to turn to the Epistle of Jude, where we are told, “And Enoch also, the seventh
from Adam, prophesied
of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints to execute judgment upon all,
and to convince all that are
ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds,” etc. (vv. 14-15). Here again we see the same principle
illustrated and the same
fact exemplified. Enoch the Prophet lived in a day of abounding wickedness. He was contemporary with
Noah, when “the earth was
filled with violence,” and “all flesh had corrupted his [God’s] way upon the earth” (Gen 6:11-12). The
ministry of Enoch, then, was
exercised some time previous to the great Flood, and he was raised up to call upon men to forsake their
sins and to announce the
certainty of divine judgment falling upon them should they refuse to do so.
Who are the next men referred to in Scripture as being “prophets” of God? The answer may surprise
some of our readers: they
are none other than Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In Psalm 105 we read, “He suffered no man to do them
wrong: yea, he reproved
kings for their sakes, saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm” (vv. 14-15). The
context clearly identifies
these “prophets.” “He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a
thousand generations. Which
covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; and confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law
and to Israel for an everlasting
covenant: saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance” (vv. 8-11). And why
were the Patriarchs
denominated “prophets”? That which has been before us in the preceding paragraphs supplies the
answer, and the title here
given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is to be explained on the same principle. A new and fearful evil had
entered the world, and God
called out the Patriarchs separating them from it, so that by their lips and lives they were witnesses
against it.
That evil was, idolatry. So far as Scripture reveals, idols were not worshipped by men previous to the
Flood. But soon after the
great deluge idolatry not only obtained a footing, but became general. “Thus saith the LORD God of
Israel, Your fathers dwelt on
the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor; and
they served other gods”
(Jos 24:2). It is to that very period in ancient history—namely, to the days of Nimrod and onwards—that
Romans 1:22-23 looks
back: “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible
God into an image made like
to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.” An incidental reference,
which however may be regarded
as symptomatic of general conditions, is contained in, “Rachel had stolen the images that were her
father’s” (Gen 31:19). It
was from this awful sin of idolatry that the Patriarchs were separated, to serve as “prophets”—witnesses
for the true God. Thus we
see once more that the bringing in of the Prophet was in the face of apostasy.
Passing down the stream of human history, let us next consider the case of the chosen nation. Jehovah
had separated the Hebrews
unto Himself as His favoured people. Called out of Egypt, they were first brought into a place of isolation:
the wilderness.
There the tabernacle of worship and witness was erected, laws were given to Israel, and the priesthood
was instituted. We read of
princes, elders, and judges in the congregation, but no mention whatever is made of any order of
“prophets” being appointed. Why
is this? Because there was no need for them. So long as Israel walked in obedience to and fellowship
with the Lord and worshipped