ELIJAH: THE TISHBITE

The prophet and author of the little Old Testament book known as “Joel” has an interesting name. The first part, Jo, is an abbreviation of the personal name of God – Jehovah. The second part, El, is a shortened version of the more generic name of God – Elohim. Together, Jo-El means Jehovah is God.

Elijah’s name carries the same meaning. El is an abbreviation for Elohim and Jah is a shortened version of Jehovah. Together, Elijah, like Joel, means Jehovah is God or God is Jehovah.

As we study the life of the great prophet, we’ll see the great courage it took for Elijah’s parents to give him such a name. Sadly, most people living in the Northern Kingdom in that day believed that Baal was the most supreme being. With a name like Elijah, you had to be tough!

When we first meet the guy, he jumps onto the pages of Scripture like a lightning bolt on a summer day. But who was he, and where was he from?

His entire pedigree is summed up with this: “Elijah the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers…” (1 Kings 17:1). The Bible reveals nothing concerning his ancestry. We’re told nothing about his parents or siblings or offspring. He’s a “Tishbite” meaning he was born and raised in Tishbe, a proud graduate of Tishbe High. But again, we know nothing of Tishbe except that it was located in Gilead, the rugged and mountainous area on the easter slopes of the Jordan River.

Elijah, as we will see in the next blogs, was used by God in extraordinary ways. He called down fire from heaven. He raised the dead. He prayed for miracles, and God delivered!  Elijah, a nobody from nowhere, was a tough kid from rough territory who boldly wore the moniker, Jehovah is my God!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).