First Resurrection, Second Resurrection

First Resurrection, Second Resurrection April 4, 2015

Elijah’s life (1 Kings 17-19) tracks that of Moses. He confronts the Pharaoh-like King Ahab, then flees from the land, as Moses fled to Midian, where he is cared for by a widow. God provides miraculously for the prophet and his host, but then her child dies. In the Moses story, this corresponds to the threat to the son of Moses, Gershom, who nearly dies at the border of Egypt as Moses returns. Gershom is saved by circumcision, but Elijah does Moses one better: He raises the boy from the dead.

This is the first resurrection: Elijah returns along to the land from exile, having raised a boy from the dead.

Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal – the magicians of Egypt – at Mount Carmel, demonstrating the impotence of Baal, as the plagues demonstrates the impotence of the gods of Egypt. The prophets of Baal are slaughtered, the drought ends, and rain falls on the land.

It looks to be a turning point, but Elijah is soon under threat again, with Jezebel seeking his life. He flees from the land again, this time to Sinai, where he meets with Yahweh while hiding within a cave, as Moses saw the glory of God pass. Elijah pleads with Yahweh, and at the site of the Mosaic covenant, Yahweh makes new promises, now concerning a remnant, and concerning the extension of prophetic ministry to the Gentiles. Soon he has called Elisha to share the ministry, and soon thereafter there are communities of prophets everywhere.

This is the second resurrection: Yahweh renews covenant, and surrounds Elijah with fellow servants.

First a boy, then Israel, Yahweh’s son. First Elijah, then communities of the prophets. 

Resurrection is never a one-off event. Where there is a first, there will always be a second.


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