You can’t talk about Ahab without talking about Elijah. You can’t talk about Elijah without talking about Elisha. So let’s talk about them.
It is equally tricky to distinguish the pronunciation and spelling of their names in Chinese and in English. In case you haven’t heard enough about them yet:
Elijah [ee-LAHY-jah] 以利亞 {yi3-li4-ya3}
Elisha [ee-LAHY-shah] 以利沙 {yi3-li4-sha1}
Note: If their names are too difficult to distinguish, try the newsletter format with a bit of color to help.
While both of them were renowned prophets who served the kingdom of Israel exclusively, Elijah was Elisha‘s master, the latter’s ministry following immediately that of the former.
The two of them shared some striking similarities in their experiences. They both ministered to a widow (separate widows). They both resurrected someone’s son (separate someones). They both parted the Jordan River with a cloak (same cloak). Now, the widow who hosted Elijah had a continuous provision that lasted through the famine, whereas the widow who pleaded for Elisha‘s help got an abundance of oil and sold it for money to redeem her son.
They both had their epic moments. Elijah battled against Baal’s 450 prophets and had a close encounter with God that restored his faith and strength. Elisha healed Aramean commander Naaman of leprosy and opened the eyes of his servant to God’s armies after which he blinded the enemies’ eyes instead.
Their passing was equally astounding. Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind and therefore did not taste death. Elisha on the other hand prophesied victory to King Jehoash on the deathbed and actually got angry because of the king’s lack of resolve. After Elisha died, a dead person came back to life after being dumped on his bones. So, not even death can do his miracles apart.
Interestingly, when both prophets passed from this world, the same was said of them, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” (2 Kings 2:12, 2 Kings 13:14) Indeed, no amount of chariots and horsemen could have delivered Israel from its enemies as these prophets and their God did. They had fought their good fights, finished their races, and proved again and again, “The battle is the Lord’s.”