When Prophets get Wheels

“And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.” 1 Kings 18:46

Elijah had mad prophet game. When the Spirit of God was upon him, he was quick-witted, and quick-footed (and, before the end, quick-winged). The word of God sped swiftly from his lips, fulfilling its purpose, summoning drought and rain, rendering judgment, and grace, and life to the dead. And, he enjoyed physical superpowers for a short while.

God’s prophets sometimes experienced supernatural traveling arrangements: Philip’s teleportation, Paul’s visit to paradise, Ezekiel’s vision-journeys, and Elijah’s escort to heaven. But this was a physical enablement, more akin to Samson’s feats of war. Here was bodily training that was profitable for all things. The Tishbite Wingfoot left Ahab’s chariot in the dust.

What can we say? When God needs his prophets to run, they will run. He provides for us in similar ways. I suppose the rare, extraordinary physical feat could still occur among us, but more ordinarily, he quickens us with supernatural grace and speeds us along on our errands for his glory. With his hand upon us, we easily outpace the machinations of the evil one.