Use the ministries of Elijah and Elisha to discuss the concept of courage

The Concept of Courage in the Ministries of Elijah and Elisha

This study note examines how the prophets Elijah and Elisha demonstrated courage in their ministries, and what their examples teach us about facing challenges with faith and boldness.

What Is a Prophet?

A prophet is a person called and sent by God to proclaim God's will to His people. Prophets are messengers of God who interpret and communicate the divine mind to the people of Israel. They receive God's message through direct inspiration, dreams, visions, or by applying Scripture. In short, a prophet is a man of God, a messenger, a watchman, a seer, and an intercessor.

The Concept of Courage

General courage means boldness of mind, soul, and body to deal effectively with unpleasant issues in life without fear of their pains or effects. Biblically, God commanded Moses, Joshua, Judges, and Kings not to fear anybody or anything. In Deuteronomy 31:6, God told Moses: "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Spiritual courage goes beyond physical bravery. It is the strength to face spiritual challenges through faith in God. Jesus taught that believers would face persecution but encouraged them to endure to the end (Matthew 24:9-13). Faith drives courage because faith believes God's promises.

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Elijah's Demonstrations of Courage

Elijah's name means "The Lord is my God." He was from Tishbite in Gilead and was called by God during the evil reign of King Ahab, who led Israel into worshipping Baal.

1. The Confrontation with Ahab and the Prophets of Baal

When King Ahab and his wife Jezebel introduced Baal worship in Israel, Elijah courageously stood against them. He announced a drought that lasted three years and six months to prove that Yahweh, not Baal, was the true God of fertility and rain (1 Kings 17:1).

When the famine grew severe, Elijah went to King Ahab and boldly exchanged words with him. The king called Elijah "the troubler of Israel," but Elijah replied by calling Ahab a sinner for allowing syncretism in Israel (1 Kings 18:17-18).

On Mount Carmel, Elijah courageously challenged the 450 prophets of Baal to a test: each would offer a sacrifice, and the god who answered by sending fire from heaven would be the true God. The prophets of Baal cried out, cut themselves, and pleaded to their god, but nothing happened. Elijah then prayed to Yahweh, and fire came from heaven, consuming the sacrifice. After this demonstration of God's power, Elijah seized all the prophets of Baal and slaughtered them (1 Kings 18:20-40).

This act of courage taught the Israelites that:

• Yahweh is omnipotent and more powerful than Baal
• God answers the prayers of His faithful servants
• Sin leads to punishment (the false prophets were killed)
• Monotheism (worship of one true God) is the correct faith

2. Elijah's Message to Ahab About Naboth's Vineyard

When Ahab coveted Naboth's vineyard and Jezebel arranged for Naboth to be falsely accused and killed, Elijah courageously went to the king and asked: "After murdering the man, are you taking over his property as well?" (1 Kings 21:19). He boldly pronounced God's judgment on Ahab's family, declaring that disaster would come upon him and his household for their sins.

3. Elijah Against King Ahazijah

When King Ahazijah (Ahab's son) fell through a lattice and sent messengers to ask the pagan god Baalzebub if he would recover, Elijah was sent by an angel to meet them. He courageously told them: "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baalzebub? ... You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone, but you shall surely die" (2 Kings 1:3-16). When the king sent soldiers to arrest Elijah, he called down fire from heaven that consumed two groups of fifty soldiers each.

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Elisha's Demonstrations of Courage

Elisha's name means "My God is salvation." He was Elijah's successor and performed many miracles that showed courage in addressing the problems of his time.

1. Confronting the King of Samaria

When the king of Samaria threatened Elisha's life, Elisha responded courageously by prophesying that good quality food would be available for a shekel by the next day—even when food prices were extremely high (2 Kings 7:1-2). This showed that Elisha trusted in God's power rather than in human strength.

2. Dealing with the Aramean (Syrian) Army

When the Arameans (Syrians) surrounded the Israelites, Elisha prayed to God to blind their eyes and lead them into Samaria. When the king wanted to kill these captured soldiers, Elisha courageously pleaded with him not to kill the war captives (2 Kings 6:17-20).

3. Healing Naaman the Leper

Naaman was a powerful Syrian commander with leprosy. When he came to Elisha seeking healing, Elisha courageously ordered him to dip himself seven times in the River Jordan. When Naaman hesitated, his servants urged him to obey, and he was healed (2 Kings 5:1-19). This story shows that courage sometimes requires humility and obedience.

4. Other Miracles Demonstrating Courage

• The widow's oil: Elisha helped a widow pay her debts by miraculously multiplying her oil (2 Kings 4:1-7)
• The Shunammite woman's son: Elisha raised the woman's dead son back to life (2 Kings 4:8-37)
• The floating axe: When an axe head fell into the water, Elisha made it float by throwing a stick into the water (2 Kings 6:1-7)
• Cursing the mocking boys: When boys mocked Elisha, he courageously cursed them, and two she-bears came out and tore them (2 Kings 2:23-25)

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Decision-Making from Elijah and Elisha

Both prophets teach us about making the right decisions at the right time:

• Elijah decided to confront Ahab at the right moment, organized the Mount Carmel contest, and ordered the slaughter of Baal prophets when the time was right
• Elisha decided to purify the spring water, prophesied about food prices at the right time, and chose to spare the lives of captured Assyrian soldiers

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Real-life application

As a student in Tanzania, you can apply the courage demonstrated by Elijah and Elisha in your daily life. For example, when you face peer pressure to engage in corruption or dishonest practices—like being asked to cheat in an exam or pay a bribe to get something done—you can be courageously like Elijah and stand firm for what is right, trusting that God will support you just as He supported the prophets.