God's Whisper in the Wilderness

Bible Passage: 1 Kings 19:1–8

1. Elijah's Escape Explained

1 Kings 19:1–2 CSB

1 Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”

There was a sudden shift that happened to Elijah at this point in time.

He went from literally being on the top of the mountain to running for his life.

He was on top of Mount Carmel praying faithfully for the Lord to provide rain. (continually sending his servant to look over the sea to check if anything was coming) because he had faith in the true faithful God.

Elijah was at a high right here. Not just physically, but also spiritually.

Think of everything that had happened.

Elijah commanded to meet Ahab by God. (Faith)

Elijah told Ahab top have prophets of Baal & Ashera to meet at Mount Carmel.

Two offerings - to Baal and God.

God answered BIG

Elijah pursued and slayed all the prophets of Baal.

Elijah goes to top of Mount Carmel and prays.

God answers BIG.

Its hard not to be on a spiritual high when you experience God like this.

The downfall to Elijah’s situation like ours, we live in a sinful world, and sometimes you can go from a Spiritual high to a valley lower than you thought existed.

Many times, when God is working in and through us, we are going to make people upset.

Not a reason or excuse to be hateful, but it is going to happen.

When you speak/preach/show the truth of the gospel, people will fight your position.

Elijah went from the one who was doing the chasing filled with the power of God, to the one being chased.

When Jezebel’s messenger came to him, the messenger presented a promise from Jezebel, a promise of death.

Elijah did what anyone would likely do in that situation - he dropped everything and ran.

1 Kings 19:3 CSB

3 Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there,

He was full of fear and he was desperate. He knew that Jezebel would make good on her promise if she was given the opportunity, so all Elijah could do was not allow her the opportunity. So he ran.

When we run from something, there is something that we must first understand.

You can run from the situation, but you can never escape and run from God. Elijah knew this.

As he questioned his call and was exhausted running from Jezebel, he needed to seek God, and he needed to seek God alone.

Same as Moses (Exodus 24) and Abraham (Gen 22) - both left there servants to seek God alone.

2. Elijah’s Exhaustion

1 Kings 19:4–5 CSB

4 but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.”

As he questioned his call and was exhausted running from Jezebel, he needed to seek God, and he needed to seek God alone.

Same as Moses (Exodus 24) and Abraham (Gen 22) - both left there servants to seek God alone.

Elijah sat under a broom (juniper) tree.

He had reached the end of his rope. There is only so much that a person can handle and deal with on their own and he was there.

You hear the term burnout alot in ministry, however it applies to everyone.

When someone is engulfed in doing something time and time again, the can grow weary and get tired. At that point you need something to make it fresh and exciting again.

Pastor’s go through burnout periodically. That is one of the reasons that we have sabbaticals. to help prevent this, to give us a time for rejuvenation in the Word with God.

Elijah was going through burnout. He couldn’t see the upside to pressing on.

1 Kings 19:4 CSB

4 ..He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.”

Elijah was in dire need. He expressed his desire for the Lord to kill him.

Elijah was open with God with his desires. He didn’t sugar coat them like we try to do.

Alot of times when you see other people, you force a smile and say everything is ok, even if its not.

With God, you don’t have to force anything or sugar coat it.

God gets it. God gets us. Be honest with God. He hears you.

How do we know God gets us?

1 Kings 19:5 CSB

5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.”

God sent Elijah an angel.

Elijah asked to die, God provided nourishment.

The angel was touching Elijah when he woke up. It’s personal to the angel and to God.

God saw Elijah at his lowest of lows and offered strength.

Just like Elijah, we can express our pains to God and trust He will provide the care that we need.

3. Elijah’s Empowered

1 Kings 19:6–8 CSB

6 Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lord returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” 8 So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.

When the angel told Elijah to Get up and eat, God was not simply providing spiritual nourishment but also physical nourishment.

God knew what Elijah had prayed for before he went to sleep, but God was not finished with his servant, so He provided what Elijah needed, not what he wanted.

a loaf of bread and a jug of water.

After Elijah ate and drank some, he laid back down. He was still depressed, he still didn’t see the full point of everything.

It wasn’t until the second time that the angel came back that Elijah was truly fully rejuvenated.

What was the message from the angel the 2nd time that seemed to get Elijah back to God’s plan?

1 Kings 19:7 CSB

7 Then the angel of the Lord returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”

The journey - God was not done with him.

The fact that he knew God was not finished and still wanted to use him for His purpose was all the encouragement that was needed.

So, being re-energized to the work of the Lord, what did Elijah do in response to the angel?

He got up and ate.

1 Kings 19:8 CSB

8 So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.

God provided Elijah all the nourishment that he needed to make it through the journey that was ahead.

Elijah walked 40 days and 40 nights on the strength of that food. Only God can do that.

Conclusion

Elijah’s Escape Attempt. (Vv. 1-3)

Have you ever tried to run like Elijah.

You can outrun situations, but not God.

Elijah’s Exhaustion. (Vv. 4-5)

Physically & mentally tired.

Give it to God. Be real. He can handle it.

When was the last time you turned everything over to God.

God knows what is needed and provides it!

Elijah Empowered. (Vv. 6-8)

God empowered Elijah for the journey He had planned for him.

Have you allowed God to empower you?

God doesn’t do this just for Elijah - He wants to do it for all his children.

Question is - will you let Him.