Through ELIJAH GOD provided A PILLAR OF STRENGTH FOR TRUE WORSHIP in a time when ISRAEL (JACOB's descendants) spiritual and moral condition has fallen to an alarmingly low
state.
Elijah first appear when he is sent by GOD to announce chastisement upon ISRAEL for their sins.
ELIJAH points out that GOD the LIVING GOD OF ISRAEL has decree that NO RAIN (no live) or
DEW (the evil power was unable to operate in living matter) will occur for a period of years, EXCEPT AT ELIJAH's WORD. After this announcement GOD DIRECTS ELIJAH TO THE TORRENT VALLEY OF CHERITH (meaning "CUT") to the EAST OF THE JORDAN IN THE TERRITORY OF THE TRIBE OF GAD, a site where ELIJAH concealed himself and was FED BY RAVENS. The location remains unidentifiable to the human eye. It is only visualized to those who pusrue spiritual knowledge.
GAD, a son of JACOB by Leah's maidservant Zilpah, who also bore Gad's younger brother ASHER, was born IN PADDAN-ARAM. Leah exclaimed : "With Good Fortune!" hence this is the meaning of his name. When JACOB was about to die he blessed GAD saying : "As for GAD, a marauder band will raid him, but he will raid the extreme rear." They requested as their allotment of territory the cattle
country (They were raisers of livestock) EAST OF THE JORDAN. The country occupied by GAD was comprised of the LOWLANDS along most of the JORDAN RIVER' s EAST bank, SOUTH
almost to the DEAD SEA, and NORTH near to the SEA OF CHINNERETH.
GAD-A-RENES, the name applied to the inhabitants of AN AREA where CHRIST JESUS expelled
demons from two men. MATTHEW called them "country of the Gadarenes," whereas LUKE called
them "country of the Gerasenes." Both countries are shown to lie on "THE OTHER SIDE," that is,
The EAST side, of the SEA OF CHINNERETH. Coins from them depict a ship, suggesting that its territory extended as far as the SEA OF CHINNERETH. Near an unnamed city in the country of the
Gadarenes JESUS CHRIST met TWO UNUSUALLY FIERCE DEMON-POSSESSED MEN.
These had their dwelling among the TOMBS, that is NATURAL CAVES used a such and/or
ROCK-CUT tombs. JESUS, in expelling the DEMONS, permitted them TO TAKE POSSESSION
OF a large herd of SWINE that subsequently RUSHED OVER A PRECIPICE and DROWNED
IN THE SEA OF CHINNERETH. This so disturbed the local inhabitants, that they entreated JESUS
to depart from the area. JESUS wanted others to decide on solid evidence that HE WAS INDEED THE CHRIST. HE COULD BEAR WITNESS AMONG PEOPLE WITH WHOM THE SON OF
GOD would have limited contact.
Now it is ELIJAH turn. He MENDS an ALTAR that had been torn down using TWELVE STONES.
Then he has the PEOPLE SOAK the OFFERING AND ALTAR IN WATER THREE TIMES;
EVEN the TRENCH AROUND the ALTAR, circumscribing an specific area, IS FILLED WITH WATER.
About the TIME of the DAILY EVENING GRAIN OFFERING ELIJAH PRAYS ONCE TO GOD,
WHO SENDS FIRE FROM THE HEAVENS TO CONSUME, not just the offering, but also the
WOOD, the STONES OF THE ALTAR and THE WATER IN THE TRENCH.
The people, seeing this, fall upon their faces and say : "GOD IS THE TRUE GOD OF ISRAEL!"
Then ELIJAH HAS ALL THE 450 PROPHETS of BAAL SLAUGHTERED AT THE TORRENT VALLEY OF KISHON.
The Kishon is a STREAM that winds its way in a NORTHWESTERLY direction through the PLAIN
of ESDRAELON and, after flowing through a NARROW GORGE BETWEEN MOUNT CARMEL
and a spur of the GALILEAN HILLS, enters the PLAIN OF ACCO (ACRE) before finally EMPTY-
ING INTO the MEDITERRANEAN.
In the time of BARAK and DEBORAH the TORRENT VALLEY of KISHON figured in the deliverance of the ISRAELITES from Canaanite oppression (Satan forces in control of the World).
BARAK and his 10,000 men descended from MOUNT TABOR to engage the enemy.
The LORD GOD then intervened, "FROM HEAVEN DID THE STARS FIGHT, FROM THEIR
ORBITS THEY FOUGHT AGAINST...." . Judg. 4 and 5.
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