The Similarities Between
Elisha, Elijah, and Moses
By Chloe Li
Connection of
Elijah to Moses
1. Faithfulness in God
Moses:
Mount Sanai"He was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water."
(Exodus 35:18)
Moses
Elijah:
Mount Horeb"He got up and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God."
(I Kings 19:8)
Elijah
1. Faithfulness in God
Analysis
Though this is one of the smaller details of similiarity between Elijah and Moses, it still speaks immensly regarding the connection of Elijah and Moses's character.
God commands both Elijah and Moses to go to a mountain to meet God. Elijah goes to Mount Horeb and Moses goes to Mount Sanai. There they each accomplish different things but in the process, they both fast for forty days and forty nights. Moses fasts while he rewrites the ten commandments while Elijah fasts before he makes the journey up to Mount Horeb. Fasting for such a prolonged time is very dangerous yet it wasn't something that would stop Elijah or Moses. It is an extreme feat which shows both Moses and Elijah's faithfulness in God. Elijah did it just to speak to God while Moses virtually forgot about food while rewriting the commandments. It is the little details like this which truly show why Elijah and Moses are so important in the Bible and why God always watched over them.
2. Protector of Israelites Identity and God's Image
Moses:
Confronted Pharoah for
slavery of IsraelitesPunishes Egyptians with help from God through the ten plaguesExodus 5-11
Five of the ten plagues
Elijah:
Confronted Ahab for
the worship of BaalPunishes prophets of BaalI Kings 18
Killing of prophets of baal
2. Protector of The Israelites' Identity and God's Image
Analysis
A key role that both Elijah and Moses share is that they are protectors of the Israelites' identity. While all prophets all take on this role, these two prophets in particular stand out because of the many parallels they have with eachother. Because God made humans in God's image, it is Elijah and Moses mission to protect God's image. The image of the Israelites' identity, which includes thier beliefs, lifestyle, and culture. Elijah does this by confronting Ahab the King of Israel for allowing the worship of other gods. Elijah then showcases God's powers next to the prophets of Baal and then kills the prophets of Baal. By doing this, Elijah eliminates posibilites of Israelites worshipping other gods hence protecting God's image of the Israelites' belief. Moses confronts the Pharoah for the slavery of the Israelites and with the help of God leads the Israelites out of Eygpt and also slavery. By doing this Moses protects almost every aspect of the Israelites' culture which means protecting God's image.