1 Kings

1 Kings 19:1-8

It's not clear why God had Elijah run ahead to Jezreel but he was there when Jezebel found out.  She should have been moved by this incredible show of power by God on the Mt Carmel.  Yet she was angry at Elijah.  We get the feeling that Jezebel did all of Ahab's dirty work.  He appears very weak and incapbale fo truly leadng the people; coming across as a spineless wimp who runs to his wife whining about this event. 

A right response by Jezebel would have been repentance after the death of her prophets.  Instead she decided to kill the messenger; she told Elijah she was going to kill him like the others.  Elijah also should have been moved by the show of power on Mt Carmel; he should have been resting in the Lord.  Instead fear wells up in him and becomes afraid and runs.  The trip from Jezreel to Beersheba was about eighty miles; he then went another day's journey into the wilderness.  He sat down to die there under a broom tree.  He had given up.  He felt as though he were weak and a failure; stating he was no better than his fathers.  No matter how far he ran though, God's provision and care was there.  An angel of God fed him two times before he traveled on to Mt. Horeb.  Mt Horeb is Mt Sinai near the bottom of the Sinai peninsula. 

1 Kings 19:9-14

God allowed Elijah some time to recuperate.  He nursed him along and then brought him to the Mountain of God.  When Elijah came to a cave God asked, "What are you doing here?  It seems like a rhetorical question when God asked it.  It was for God to learn anything but for Elijah to learn about himself.  Elijah answered 'why' he is there and not 'what he is doing there'.  Elijah had simply lost his faith and seemed to need some sympathy.  He told God that everyone had turned away and all the prophets were dead.  Elijah thought all was lost and he was God's last man.  This is a far cry from the Elijah who did war with the prophets of Baal.  Did Elijah think he was telling God anything he didn't know?  Elijah was in a panic but he got a lesson in hearing from God.  God is not always in the storm, earthquake or fire.  He is in gentle blowing and heard in a whisper.  God is about His business even when we don't understand. 

1 Kings 19:15-18

Elijah was convinced he was the last believer in the land.  After God's showing on Mt Carmel he seemed to forget that God was on the throne.  More importantly God had a plan and Elijah had forgot to ask God how he might be faithful in God's plan.  Elijah was believing his eyes and the circumstances around it.  God instructed Elijah to get up and go.  The faithful man of God could not whither in the battle (Galatians 6:9).  God extended His grace to Elijah, provided for him, let him rest and moved him.  There doesn't seem to be any coddling by God.  He tells him to stand up and go.  He was to anoint Hazel king of Syria, Jehu king of Israel and Elisha prophet in his place.  Anyone Hazel didn't kill, Jehu would and anyone Jehu didn't Elisha would kill.  And then, amost as an aside, God announced that He had set aside 7000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal. 

1 Kings 19:19-22

Elijah did the last thing first of the Lord's instructions.  He went to Elisha and threw the mantle on him.  This mantle was a garment and represented the prophetic authority.  It seems Elijah wanted to Elisha back when he hesitated, wasnting kiss his father and mother before following.  But Elijah sending him back may have a sort of reminder that the was called by God.  Elisha slaughtered the animals and followed Elijah. 

©2016 Doug Ford