1 KINGS 19 - Elijah's Battle

 What an incredible manifestation of the power and authority of God!  Through a humble prophet who simply called on the name of the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, God vindicated His name and the ministry of Elijah, His prophet.  

But the battle wasn't over.  Although the people who witnessed this divine fire were proclaiming "The LORD - He is God! The Lord - He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39), the king and queen of Israel were still functioning in their evil ways and had in no way shown repentance towards Jehoveh God.  Only by the power of God did Elijah travel to Jezreel, following King Ahab as he returned to Jezebel to report all that had happened on Mount Carmel.  Actually, by the Spirit of God, Elijah outran Ahab's chariot to Jezreel!

 The king told his wife all that had happened and her response was to send a messenger to Elijah:  "May the gods deal with me...if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them [the dead prophets of Baal]."  (1 Kings 19:2) Elijah was no fool!  He ran for his life.  He left behind his servant and went alone into the wilderness near Beersheba in Judah, the southern kingdom - a distance of about 100 miles.  

After facing down over 900 idol-worshiping prophets and King Ahab, calling fire down from heaven and orchestrating the murder of these evil prophets, why did the threat of Queen Jezebel terrify the mighty Elijah?

Some would say that any man would run from an angry woman! Her wicked scheming and manipulating controlled her husband and the nation of Israel - she wielded power that had kept God's people from fully turning back to Him.  

Not only the fear of Jezebel, but some scholars say that complete exhaustion overtook Elijah.  After the showdown on Mount Carmel, he was emotionally, physically and spiritually spent.  Even though God had prepared and equipped His servant for this huge spiritual event, it required all Elijah had in terms of strength and stamina.  

Another factor that may have played into Elijah's collapse in the wilderness was the incompleteness of his mission.  Could it be possible that Elijah hoped for a complete return of the people of Israel to worship the One true God, including King Ahab and Queen Jezebel?  Or maybe he expected God to smite the rebellious royal couple on the spot.  The huge disappointment that the battle wasn't over could have sent Elijah over the edge.

"I have had enough, Lord," he said.  Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." (verse 4)  Elijah somehow feels like a failure and wants to die.  In the very next sentence, the Bible records that Elijah lay down under a bush and fell asleep. The Lord allowed Elijah rest; then He sent an angel to bake some bread and give the prophet some water.  Just like by the Cherith brook, God provided sustenance and rest for Elijah. Once revived by food, water and sleep, Elijah traveled to Mount Horeb and sought shelter in a cave.  (The journey took 40 days and nights - 1 Kings 19:8)

God continues to meet Elijah where he is at by asking him:   "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (verse 9b)  This question reminds me of when God asked Adam:  "Where are you?" when he and Eve were hiding from God in the Garden after they had sinned.  God doesn't ask these questions because He needs to find out the answers.  He wants to know if we know where we are, or why we are running? Elijah expresses his feelings and reason for running: I have been faithful to You, but Your people continue to do evil.  They have rejected Your covenant, killing Your prophets. " I am the only one left." (verse 10 & 14)  I fear for my life!

*Just a note - Elijah had met Obadiah before the 3 1/2 years of drought, and Obadiah told him that he had hidden 100 prophets who had NOT bowed their knees to Baal (1 Kings 18:4 & 13).  Somehow Elijah had the misunderstanding that he alone was faithful to God.  How often do we feel all alone in our circumstances, that no one knows our troubles and no one cares?  Elijah found himself in that place even when the facts told him otherwise.

As the Lord hears Elijah, He knows how to encourage and renew His servant.  He reveals Himself personally.  Not in the wind and storm.  Not in the earthquake.  Not in the fire.  Remember that God had sent fire down a month or more ago on Mount Carmel!  No, God wasn't in these powerful demonstrations.  The Almighty was in the gentle whisper, the still small voice.

"Be still, and know that I AM God."  (Psalm 46:10a)

Then the very next thing God does is to give Elijah work to do.  He is to anoint Hazael the next king over Aram  (Aram is connected to Sidon, where Jezebel's father had been king).  He is also to anoint Jehu over Israel, to replace Ahab.  Finally, Elijah is to anoint Elisha to succeed him as prophet.  

In short order, God has replacements for those who have done evil.  He would use both Hazael and Jehu to kill those who still remained in the land as rebels.  And He was providing Elijah a helper, successor to carry on the good fight.

 God also establishes that He had reserved 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed to Baal or kissed him!  (verse 18)  Without reprimanding Elijah, or condemning his belief that he was alone in faithfulness to the Lord, God gently but firmly guides Elijah back into active service.  

This same God can encourage you, establish you, bless you, lift you up from whatever circumstances have you feeling defeated.  God can and will help us fight the battle within!