Elijah was one of the most eminent and honored of the Hebrew prophets.  He was bold, faithful, and zealous for the honor of God. It was Elijah who confronted King Ahab and the false prophets of Baal before the great assembly at Mount Carmel. When Elijah prayed, God answered by fire, and the wavering Israelites fell on their faces and confessed that the LORD was the true God.[1] The false prophets were destroyed, and God granted a great victory. 

However the victory appeared short lived. Wicked queen Jezebel, enraged at the fate that had befallen her prophets, threatened to put Elijah to death.[2] The exhausted and despondent prophet fled in fear to Beersheba. In agony he complained to God “The children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant…I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”[3] However, God assured Elijah that He had “Reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal.”[4]

This encourages me: no matter how isolated or defeated we may feel, God is at work, a faithful remnant is spreading His Word, and His ultimate triumph is certain. Furthermore, we find that Elijah, who seemingly finished his ministry in defeat, will return to earth during the Great Tribulation where he will restore all things,[5] and according to Malachi 4:6 Elijah will “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers.”[6] So be encouraged the Lord’s victory is sure!