a man like us

Elijah was a man just like us. (James 5:17)

Now there’s a weird thing. Elijah was considered to be one of the greatest men to ever live. It was he who was taken up by God in a flaming chariot before he died so he wouldn’t have to taste death. He was the one who was pitted against 850 other prophets in a fire battle – which of their gods would bring down fire from heaven – and his God did spectacularly. He performed miracle after miracle and stood up to some of the worst kings and queens in Israelite history.

In other words, if he had been in Greek mythology, he would have been a demi-god like Hercules.

But the writer James, in the New Testament, says that Elijah was like us. In other words, he did nothing that we couldn’t do if we were in tune enough with God like he was.

That’s the thing about the Bible people. When the writers, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote the Bible, they never whitewashed the people of God. There they were with all their faults, yet God loved them and used them.

All of them had talents, yes, but God used them. Abraham was a liar who tried to sacrifice his wife to save his own life. Samson was an idiot who never really did accomplish that much. Samuel was a lousy parent. David was a guy who couldn’t keep his hands off other women and would kill to cover up his indiscretions. Peter had a temper problem and ran away when he was confused. Paul had a pride problem and worked hard to keep it under control. On and on.

Yet God used all of these people to accomplish his ends and they were all favored by him.

Why? Good question. I don’t know. Except to maybe say that we don’t have to be Supermen to be the prophets and workers of God.

Jesus was Jesus. No one else was Jesus. He was the only one who was perfect. He did the right thing all the time.

The rest of the Bible people were flawed. They were all damaged goods. They had major faults. Elijah, the guy I was talking about at the first, had a depression problem and had the tendency to run away at the wrong time. Yet he was the one James used as an example of a powerful prayer to God.

There was a drought brought on by the Lord through the mouth of Elijah. When it came time for it to stop, Elijah prayed and it rained for a long time. It was Elijah who was there when the dry bones came to life. It was Elijah who did so much. Yet he was flawed.

All of the Bible people were flawed. Every one.

What does that mean? It means that we, though we are all flawed big-time, can be used by God to do great things. His power in us can overcome even a lifetime of goofiness and failure.

But it is his power. Just like it was through Elijah. And like it can through your life.