The Descending God

Introduction

Series Recap

To this point we have seen Elijah ascending to this spiritual high

after the declaration of no rain, he goes to learn to depend on God

then he is instructed to go to the widow and put this dependence to action

where he sees the flour jar and oil jug stay just full enough to live on

where he raises the young boy from the dead

then he goes to Mt Carmel

where he shoes all of Israel who the true God is

where the people of Israel were proclaiming, “The Lord, He is God!”

He prays for the promise of rain to come and it comes

You would think, after all of this, nothing could keep Elijah down

The Bible is not a story about made up heroes

if it were, there would always be a happy ending of them riding off into the sunset

we would only get to see the good side of them, as if there was never a bad

What we will see today is that Elijah is about to go into a deep depression and wants to die

Depression is real

if you are one that believes that depression is just not feeling happy, or that they are just in a funk, I would encourage you to look into it a little more

if you are of the feeling, well if they just simply knew who they were in Jesus it would all go away, then you need this story of Elijah as well

if we are to be here as believers in Jesus to encourage one another help grow one another we cannot be so judgmental to think that the reason somebody suffers from depression is because they simply are not as spiritual as we are

I would like to say, if you or somebody that you know is suffering from depression, please seek help

come and speak to us, but please know, we will be sending you on to a trained professional that is much better equipped to handle that kind of situation

as we look at Elijah today, we will make note of different things, but please know that this is in no way a “take these three steps and get rid of depression” kind of message

1 Kings 19:1–8 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!” 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, 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.” 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.

Retell the story, entire story of chapter 19

Ahab tells on Elijah

showing he was not in charge, he knew it and was okay with that

Jezebel sends a message to Elijah that she is going to have him killed

“may the gods punish me” is slang of the day basically saying that they promise, like we would hear people say, “I swear to God...”

Elijah hears the threat and takes it to heart, he runs and is convinced that she is going to have him killed

how do we know, it is where he runs to

Beer-Sheba which belongs to Judah, a place that is a part of the southern kingdom, not under the rule of Ahab and Jezebel

Not only that, he leaves his servant there and goes alone another day’s journey by himself

now alone, feeling like everything that he had done up until now has been for nothing

like he assumed how this was going to go down, the big event on Mt Carmel would happen, the Ahab and Jezebel would repent and Elijah would be a big hero

but now the ones who were to repent and lead a nation to God wanted him dead

so he hides under a little tree and prays that God might take him, kill him in his sleep

An angel is sent to him to take care of him

I can only imagine that he thought he was dreaming

wake up to an angel kicking you and and telling you to get up and eat

seeing some water and bread, the same meal that he had when he lived with the widow

I bet he started to think about the times that God has cared for him

Angel wakes him up again and tells him to eat again

the trip you’re about to make is too much for you without food

on those meals he traveled for forty days and forty nights to a cave

he travels to a place called Horeb, this may sound a little familiar to you it is on the Sinai peninsula

this is the mountain that God gave Moses the ten commandments

in the cave Elijah is asked why he is there, meaning why have you run from Israel

he tells God that he is alone, that they want him dead

at this point God takes him out of the dark cave and has him step outside

when we are in this state, God wants to bring us into the light of truth

Elijah comes outside, and God shows him a great fire, earthquake and wind

showing the power of God that Elijah has witnessed and even proclaimed

but God did not talk to Elijah in those things

he came in a soft voice and asked him again, “What are you doing here Elijah?”

same response from Elijah, “I have been zealous for you and now they want me dead.”

now God gives him direction

and in the directions, he reveals to him that he is not alone,

he also reveals to Elijah that God is still in control despite what Elijah sees as the circumstances

The Depressed Prophet

Elijah was not thinking clearly

Elijah separated himself from strong relationships

Elijah was coming down from a “spiritual high”

Elijah was exhausted from 3 1/2 years of a spiritual battle

Elijah ended up lost in self pity

The Cared For Prophet

Elijah was allowed to rest

Elijah received nourishment

God did not answer Elijah’s prayer

The Directed Prophet

God communicated wisely with Elijah

God gave Elijah a mission

God gave Elijah a purpose

God gave Elijah a friend

We see all this in Jesus

He has given us a mission (in telling others about him), a purpose (to bring him glory) and a friend (Jesus is our high priest that intercedes for us, a church body who cares and loves you)