Elijah had confronted Ahab and had seen the power of God displayed on Mount Carmel when the fire fell and consumed the offering on the altar which he had rebuilt. He had heard the people cry, "The Lord, he is the God" (1 Kings 18.39), and had seen the prophets of Baal slaughtered. The rain for which he had prayed had been sent. Ahab rode to Jezreel, and Elijah, empowered by God, ran approximately eighteen miles, before Ahab, to Jezreel (18.17-46).
He arose and went for his life
When Ahab related to the evil Jezebel "all that Elijah had done" (19.1), he failed to acknowledge the truth that it was the God of Israel who had done these things through His servant. Jezebel's reaction was to send a messenger to Elijah to tell him that he would be killed within twenty-four hours (vv.1-2). In the past, Elijah had always obeyed God. He was a man of great faith, a man of prayer, and had waited on God before making any decision. However, when he was threatened by Jezebel, he did not pray and wait for guidance from God. As long as he exercised faith in God he feared nothing, but as he became concerned with circumstances and his own safety he ran away. He had lost the perfect peace known by those who trust in God (Is 26.3). He fled from the place where he should have maintained a testimony for God: Elijah's mind was fixed on Jezebel and on her threat (v.3). He moved now, not as he had in the past for the glory of God and the blessing of the people of Israel, but he "went for his life". He fled to Beersheba and left his servant there.
Ahab and Jezebel had seen evidence of the holiness of God, His power and His mercy on the repentant people, but there were no thoughts of God or of repentance in their minds. God is not in the thoughts of the wicked (Ps 10.4). By nature we are all wicked sinners (Rom 3.23), and enemies of God (Rom 5.10), and it is only by the grace of God that a lost sinner can be brought to saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 2.8).
The Holy Spirit has brought before us the words and deeds of many faithful men and women of God who served Him in very difficult situations. We find that there were those who failed God at some time in their lives and fell into sin. We read, for example, of Noah's drunkenness, the anger of Moses, David's adultery, and Peter's denial. All these things were recorded for our guidance, warning, enlightenment and help (1 Cor 10.11). The only One who walked on this earth who was without sin and incapable of sinning was the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Jn 3.5). God has raised up many godly men and women but it must be said that "there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Eccl 7.20), and we are warned, "let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor 10.12).
Take away my life
Elijah, the mighty man of God, took his eyes off God and fled from Jezreel, the place to which God had empowered him to go (1 Kings 18.46). He seems, momentarily, to have lost his faith. Unless we stay close to God we may be tempted and fail in what might have been considered to be our strongest points. Elijah, who had been so fearless in his obedience and witness for God, was now afraid of Jezebel. God was no longer the centre of his life. The tired, overwrought, prophet was exhausted, physically and mentally, after all he had been through, and went a day's journey into the desert and sat under a juniper tree. In his depression, he prayed saying, "O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers" (19.4). Elijah, who "went for his life" (v.3), now requested that he might die. How confused, disturbed and despondent he was. He had looked for a great, dramatic revival, a whole-hearted turning to God in Israel, and he was disappointed because this had not happened. Elijah might have felt a touch of pride after the dramatic events on Mount Carmel, and his feelings of disappointment would have served to correct this.
God had not finished using and blessing Elijah. The weary man slept: he needed rest, and "the God of all grace" (1 Pet 5.10), graciously gave sleep to His exhausted servant. After some time, he was awakened by an angel. There was no word of reproach or reprimand, but there was bread baking over hot coals and a jar of water (vv.5-6). Elijah ate and, without a word of thanks to God for his sleep and nourishment, slept again. The sequence was graciously repeated, and the "angel of the Lord...said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee" (v.7).
A still small voice
After Elijah had slept, eaten and had a needed drink, his strength of mind and body returned and, miraculously, he was empowered to journey for forty days until he reached "Horeb the mount of God" (v.8). He went into a cave and, while he was there, the "word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?" (v.9). In answering the question, Elijah showed how occupied he was with himself and with circumstances at this time. He stressed the things he had done, saying, "I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts...I, even I only, am left" (v.10). He was told to "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord" (v.11). He was about to witness an instructive and awesome display of the power of God. First, a great wind rent the mountains and broke the rocks: after this there was an earthquake and then a fire, but the Lord was not in any of these (vv.11-12). Then a "still small voice" was heard (v.12). God can reveal Himself in that which is spectacular, but it is not always so. Elijah, conscious of being in the presence of God, covered his face. He had been in a cave, sad and cast down and not serving the Lord. He went out and stood at the mouth of the cave, and God did not use a spectacular way to communicate with him but graciously spoke to him and said, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" (v.13).
If the same question were put to a believer, he would have to consider whether he was using his time and other resources in accordance with the will of God, for His glory and the benefit and blessing of other believers and those who have not been saved. The true motives for his service would have to be examined and he would have to ask himself, "Is there any danger of seeking self-glorification or an element of pride in my service?".
Elijah had been zealous for God. The children of Israel had forsaken God's covenant, broken down His altars and killed the prophets. Elijah thought he was the only one left of God's people and said, "they seek my life, to take it away" (v.14). He had seen a dramatic display of God's power over the elements. God graciously showed Elijah that He was not restricted in the methods or agents He could employ to fulfil His will. The least vivid, the "still small voice", can be used by God as well as the other dramatic displays of His power. Elijah was to learn that he was not the only one God would engage in His service to achieve His ends. He was also to learn that he was not alone as a servant of God.
God instructed Elijah to retrace his steps. He was told to "anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu...to be king over Israel: and Elisha...shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room" (vv.15-16). God would use Hazael to chasten Israel, and Jehu to chasten Ahab and the followers of Baal. God would use Elisha to continue Elijah's service (v.17). God said to Elijah, "I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him" (v.18). Elijah learned that he was not alone in worshipping God.
Once again, Elijah obeyed God immediately. He found Elisha ploughing and "cast his mantle upon him" (v.19), indicating that Elisha was to succeed him in the prophetic office. Elisha left his secular work and went with Elijah (vv.20-21).
There is no room for pride or self-centredness in the service of God and no one is indispensable to God in His service. He can raise up and use whom He will to continue His work. To be continued.Elijah had confronted Ahab and had seen the power of God displayed on Mount Carmel when the fire fell and consumed the offering on the altar which he had rebuilt. He had heard the people cry, "The Lord, he is the God" (1 Kings 18.39), and had seen the prophets of Baal slaughtered. The rain for which he had prayed had been sent. Ahab rode to Jezreel, and Elijah, empowered by God, ran approximately eighteen miles, before Ahab, to Jezreel (18.17-46).
He arose and went for his life
When Ahab related to the evil Jezebel "all that Elijah had done" (19.1), he failed to acknowledge the truth that it was the God of Israel who had done these things through His servant. Jezebel's reaction was to send a messenger to Elijah to tell him that he would be killed within twenty-four hours (vv.1-2). In the past, Elijah had always obeyed God. He was a man of great faith, a man of prayer, and had waited on God before making any decision. However, when he was threatened by Jezebel, he did not pray and wait for guidance from God. As long as he exercised faith in God he feared nothing, but as he became concerned with circumstances and his own safety he ran away. He had lost the perfect peace known by those who trust in God (Is 26.3). He fled from the place where he should have maintained a testimony for God: Elijah's mind was fixed on Jezebel and on her threat (v.3). He moved now, not as he had in the past for the glory of God and the blessing of the people of Israel, but he "went for his life". He fled to Beersheba and left his servant there.
Ahab and Jezebel had seen evidence of the holiness of God, His power and His mercy on the repentant people, but there were no thoughts of God or of repentance in their minds. God is not in the thoughts of the wicked (Ps 10.4). By nature we are all wicked sinners (Rom 3.23), and enemies of God (Rom 5.10), and it is only by the grace of God that a lost sinner can be brought to saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 2.8).
The Holy Spirit has brought before us the words and deeds of many faithful men and women of God who served Him in very difficult situations. We find that there were those who failed God at some time in their lives and fell into sin. We read, for example, of Noah's drunkenness, the anger of Moses, David's adultery, and Peter's denial. All these things were recorded for our guidance, warning, enlightenment and help (1 Cor 10.11). The only One who walked on this earth who was without sin and incapable of sinning was the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Jn 3.5). God has raised up many godly men and women but it must be said that "there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Eccl 7.20), and we are warned, "let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor 10.12).
Take away my life
Elijah, the mighty man of God, took his eyes off God and fled from Jezreel, the place to which God had empowered him to go (1 Kings 18.46). He seems, momentarily, to have lost his faith. Unless we stay close to God we may be tempted and fail in what might have been considered to be our strongest points. Elijah, who had been so fearless in his obedience and witness for God, was now afraid of Jezebel. God was no longer the centre of his life. The tired, overwrought, prophet was exhausted, physically and mentally, after all he had been through, and went a day's journey into the desert and sat under a juniper tree. In his depression, he prayed saying, "O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers" (19.4). Elijah, who "went for his life" (v.3), now requested that he might die. How confused, disturbed and despondent he was. He had looked for a great, dramatic revival, a whole-hearted turning to God in Israel, and he was disappointed because this had not happened. Elijah might have felt a touch of pride after the dramatic events on Mount Carmel, and his feelings of disappointment would have served to correct this.
God had not finished using and blessing Elijah. The weary man slept: he needed rest, and "the God of all grace" (1 Pet 5.10), graciously gave sleep to His exhausted servant. After some time, he was awakened by an angel. There was no word of reproach or reprimand, but there was bread baking over hot coals and a jar of water (vv.5-6). Elijah ate and, without a word of thanks to God for his sleep and nourishment, slept again. The sequence was graciously repeated, and the "angel of the Lord...said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee" (v.7).
A still small voice
After Elijah had slept, eaten and had a needed drink, his strength of mind and body returned and, miraculously, he was empowered to journey for forty days until he reached "Horeb the mount of God" (v.8). He went into a cave and, while he was there, the "word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?" (v.9). In answering the question, Elijah showed how occupied he was with himself and with circumstances at this time. He stressed the things he had done, saying, "I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts...I, even I only, am left" (v.10). He was told to "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord" (v.11). He was about to witness an instructive and awesome display of the power of God. First, a great wind rent the mountains and broke the rocks: after this there was an earthquake and then a fire, but the Lord was not in any of these (vv.11-12). Then a "still small voice" was heard (v.12). God can reveal Himself in that which is spectacular, but it is not always so. Elijah, conscious of being in the presence of God, covered his face. He had been in a cave, sad and cast down and not serving the Lord. He went out and stood at the mouth of the cave, and God did not use a spectacular way to communicate with him but graciously spoke to him and said, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" (v.13).
If the same question were put to a believer, he would have to consider whether he was using his time and other resources in accordance with the will of God, for His glory and the benefit and blessing of other believers and those who have not been saved. The true motives for his service would have to be examined and he would have to ask himself, "Is there any danger of seeking self-glorification or an element of pride in my service?".
Elijah had been zealous for God. The children of Israel had forsaken God's covenant, broken down His altars and killed the prophets. Elijah thought he was the only one left of God's people and said, "they seek my life, to take it away" (v.14). He had seen a dramatic display of God's power over the elements. God graciously showed Elijah that He was not restricted in the methods or agents He could employ to fulfil His will. The least vivid, the "still small voice", can be used by God as well as the other dramatic displays of His power. Elijah was to learn that he was not the only one God would engage in His service to achieve His ends. He was also to learn that he was not alone as a servant of God.
God instructed Elijah to retrace his steps. He was told to "anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu...to be king over Israel: and Elisha...shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room" (vv.15-16). God would use Hazael to chasten Israel, and Jehu to chasten Ahab and the followers of Baal. God would use Elisha to continue Elijah's service (v.17). God said to Elijah, "I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him" (v.18). Elijah learned that he was not alone in worshipping God.
Once again, Elijah obeyed God immediately. He found Elisha ploughing and "cast his mantle upon him" (v.19), indicating that Elisha was to succeed him in the prophetic office. Elisha left his secular work and went with Elijah (vv.20-21).
There is no room for pride or self-centredness in the service of God and no one is indispensable to God in His service. He can raise up and use whom He will to continue His work.
To be continued.
