PROPHET ELIJAH

The Prophet Elijah is one of the most powerful and enigmatic figures in the Old Testament, revered in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He appears during a time of deep spiritual crisis in the Kingdom of Israel, confronting King Ahab and Queen Jezebel over their promotion of Baal worship.

Elijah is known for his fierce defense of the worship of the true God. He performs miracles, including multiplying a widow’s food during famine and raising her son from the dead. One of his most famous moments is the dramatic confrontation on Mount Carmel, where he calls down fire from heaven to prove God’s supremacy over Baal.

He is also remembered for his retreat into the wilderness, where God speaks to him not in wind or fire, but in a still, small voice. This moment emphasizes the mystery of divine revelation and Elijah’s deep spiritual sensitivity.

Elijah does not die but is taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot, witnessed by his disciple Elisha. Because of this, he becomes a symbol of those who do not taste death and a forerunner of the Messiah. In Christian tradition, he appears at the Transfiguration of Christ alongside Moses, representing the prophets as Moses represents the Law.

In iconography, Elijah is often depicted as an ascetic figure with wild hair and a mantle, sometimes standing by a raven or being fed by one in the desert. His image evokes both spiritual power and the solitude of the prophet’s calling.

16”x20” acrylic on wood. By Stephen Hotchkiss. 

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