When the Enemy Roars

1 Kings 19:1–18 NKJV

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

The Prophet Elijah

The prophet Elijah was one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament

He had prayed and a drought came on the land for three and one-half years

He confronted 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah with a challenge to prove which God was the true God—Baal or YAHWEH. When Elijah prayed, God sent fire out of heaven and the prophets of Baal were executed.

He prayed again and God broke the drought with a torrential downpour of rain.

When Queen Jezebel heard the news, she vowed to kill Elijah.

When Elijah heard this news, he became afraid and ran for his life.

What happened? The enemy roared!

The Devil is Like a Roaring Lion

He is on the prowl, seeking whom he may devour.

He never gives up and is the master of counterattacks.

His roar represents His angry and intimidating threats against us.

The Lion’s Roar

A lion can roar as loud as 114 decibels, which is about 25 times louder than a gas-powered lawn mower.

Personal illustration of hearing a lion roar at the Lufkin Zoo.

Dean Smith, in an article entitled “Beware the Roaring Lion” wrote: “For years, scientists have been puzzled by the unusual affect the lion’s roar has on its prey. When the lion gives a deep, guttural roar, instead of instantly fleeing, animals are momentarily paralyzed giving the lion a brief opportunity to strike. Researchers have now discovered the reason for this. Along with its roar, the lion utters what is called “infrasound.” This is a low-frequency blast that the prey actually feels instead of hears. Humans can hear sound waves between 20 to 20,000 hz, but this part of the lion’s roar falls below this range coming in at 18 hz. It’s like a hit before the hit. It is so powerful that it can momentarily stun an animal. In fact, lion trainers have been known to go into shock when lions utter this low-level roar. This part of the roar is so powerful it can even pass through mountains and dense jungle forests. Military researchers have long known of the effects of this low-frequency blast and are trying to incorporate it into modern weaponry, which would be used to stun advancing troops. So as Peter addresses the issue of satanic attack, he is saying it’s not what you actually hear that’s dangerous, but rather what you don’t hear.”[1]

Have You been Paralyzed by the Enemy’s Roar?

Has the enemy tried to intimidate your walk with God with a counterattack?

The enemy roared at Elijah through the mouth of Queen Jezebel.

The mighty prophet of faith and power suddenly ran in fear to save his life.

The enemy’s roar caused Elijah to experience a personal crisis of faith.

Has the enemy tried to paralyze your faith with fear?

Overcoming the Enemy’s Roar

Resist fear with your faith (1 Kings 19:1-3)

Don’t let his roar alarm you into fear.

The enemy’s roar is meant to intimidate your faith and replace it with fear.

Resist the temptation to flee (1 Kings 19:3)

Don’t let his roar cause you to flee: “And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life.”

The same God who gave you victory in the past is the same God who will give you victory today.

Resist feelings of discouragement and depression

Counterattacks can be a source of discouragement that leads to depression

They can stun us and make us question our faith and commitment to keep fighting.

A warrior’s greatest time of discouragement often comes after his greatest victory.

Recognize the signs of depression

Weariness (burnout): “It is enough!”

Disillusionment: “for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword.”

Forgetfulness: Elijah failed to remember the victories of the past.

Self-Pity: “I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

Feelings of Unworthiness: “Who am I?”

Despairing of Life: “Lord, take my life!”

Withdrawal: “He lay and slept under a broom tree.”

Get back to the normal routines of life (verses 5-6): “Then an angel touched him, and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’”

Get back to the bedrock of your faith (verse 8): “So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.”

Get honest with God and let God get honest with you (verses 9-10): “And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’”

Be led by the still small voice of God (verse 11-13).

Get back to what God has called you to do (verse 15)

Believe God for victory over the enemy

Ask yourself: “How would I be acting right now if I were confident that I have the victory?”

God told Elijah to anoint new leaders for the future. Victory was ultimately realized through these leaders.

[1] Dean Smith, “Beware the Roaring Lion”, www.opentheword.org/2017/01/27/beware-the-roaring-lion/