Elijah-Bold Spokesman for God- Part 5

Introduction-I Kings 19:1-18

Last week we considered the most prominent and memorable event in the scriptural record of Elijah’s life.

Elijah called for a competition in order to demonstrate the power of the true and living God and to confirm before all the people that He alone is God.

After praying a brief prayer fire fell from heaven consuming the sacrifice, the stones, the water, and the dust such that there could be no doubt as to the victor between Baal and the Lord.

After this great victory, Elijah called for the people to put to death the prophets of Baalim removing their wicked influence and putting an end to their lies, deception, and idolatry.

The previous section closed with the people proclaiming “The Lord He is the God.”

This is exactly the outcome that Elijah had hoped for and then rain returned to the land after the contest was completed.

Yet the very next chapter begins with a very different tone.

The Threat (Vs. 1-2)

Though it seems the people were convinced that Baal was not God and that the Lord is God Ahab and Jezebel are apparently deeply committed to their idolatry and are terribly upset that their false prophets have been slain.

Jezebel is so angry with Elijah that she sends word that she will not rest until Elijah has been slain.

What a shock it must have been for Elijah to hear this message after such a great victory.

He has just witnessed the mighty power of God first hand, but now he is once again being threatened and is the target of wicked Jezebel.

Just when Elijah thought that there would be a nationwide revival, he finds himself on the run once again.

The Response (Vs. 3-4)

One might think that after Elijah had just witnessed such a display of God’s power that he would not fear threats from Jezebel and that he would stand his ground.

Yet the scriptures indicate that when he received word of the threat and saw that he was not safe, he arose and ran to a place called Beer-sheba.

Once he arrived here, Elijah left his servant there—further isolating himself to the point that now he is utterly alone.

Elijah goes a day’s journey into the wilderness and then sits down beneath a juniper tree and asks God to end his life.

What a tragic scene so soon removed from the great victory on Mt. Carmel.

Yet those who have served the Lord faithfully for some time will recognize this reality—often the darkest moments follow closely on the heels of the greatest victories.

It seems that when one is on the mountain top the only direction that one can go is down into the valley.

Elijah is facing deep discouragement, despair, and depression in these moments and it seems that he is at the point of giving up hope.

There are many faithful servants of the Lord who have been mightily used of God who have also found themselves struggling to find light in the darkness as Elijah is in this moment.

Ultimately Elijah drifts off to sleep likely in a state of utter exhaustion from the stress and strain of his circumstances.

Gracious Provision (Vs. 5-8)

Notice in this moment the Lord does not rebuke or reprimand His discouraged and despairing servant.

Instead he sends an angel to gently wake him and to encourage him to rise and eat in order that he may regain some measure of strength.

Elijah rises and eats and then it seems immediately falls back into sleep for a time.

A second time, the angel of the Lord comes and touches him and once again encourage him to rise and eat while also expressing to him that the journey he is about to undertake will otherwise be too great for him.

Elijah once more rises and eats and is so strengthened by God’s provisions that he travels for forty days and forty nights until he reaches a place called Horeb—the mount of God.

The Conversation (Vs. 9-18)

God now begins to question Elijah concerning his present circumstances—He asks “What doest thou here, Elijah?”

God is essentially asking Elijah why he is here and what he expects to find here.

Elijah then recounts to God that he has been very passionate in his zeal for the Lord and he is deeply disappointed that the children of Israel have forsaken God’s covenant and have torn down altars and slain the prophets of the Lord.

He is convinced that he alone remains faithful to the Lord and his life is now under threat.

God then instructs Elijah to go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord.

At this time the Lord passed by and then some powerful events take place.

First a powerful wind rent the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces, but Elijah recognized that the Lord was not in the wind.

After this there was an earthquake and a fire and Elijah again understood that the Lord was not in the earthquake or the fire.

Finally there was a still small voice which Elijah recognized as the Lord speaking to Him.

Once again the Lord asks Elijah what he is doing in this place?

Again Elijah recounts the same story of his zeal for the Lord and his disappointment that others have forsaken the Lord.

This time the Lord instructs him to Go and return and on the way to the wilderness of Damascus because there is an important mission which he must complete.

God instructs Elijah to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria and Jehu to be king over Israel.

He also instructs Elijah to anoint Elisha to be prophet in his place.

This is essentially God revealing to Elijah that He is not finished with him yet for there is still work for him to do.

He also lets Elijah know that there are yet seven thousand Israelites who have not bowed down to Baal or worshipped him.

God tells him that he is not alone as he believed.

In his time of disappointment and despair God reminds Elijah that he has a purpose and that though it may seem that he is alone there are others who have also remained faithful to the Lord.

Elijah is now reenergized and is ready to return to serving the Lord.

Conclusion

We will likely each face seasons like that which Elijah faced in these dark moments.

It is not unusual after a great victory to experience a time of disappointment and despair.

It is in these moments that we must look to the Lord and be reminded who He is and why we serve Him.

He has a purpose for each of us so long as we remain alive and we must remain faithful to Him not allowing our disappointments and despair to overwhelm us and cause us to quit.

We may not realize just how important the work that God has remaining for us is.