In the Face of Despair
1 Kings 19: 1-21
or
It’s ok to be scared!
Introduction
Background
In the preceding chapter we learn that all prophets of Baal had been slaughtered. These were Jezelbels’ yes men – they told her all she wanted to hear about how powerful and wonderful she would be. No wonder she was furious. This was in fact a prophesy about the death of false prophets, made by God many years before.
Now we have to consider the extent of this loss to Jezebel if we are to begin to understand Elijah’s actions. She had about 850 prophets of the god’s of Baal, so it was a serious power base within Ahab’s kingdom. She was used to getting her own way and she was certainly not used to anyone getting in her way. If she wanted something then she expected to get it!
The Risk
Elijah was a prophet of Yahweh and he had shown Jezebel that this living God was far superior to the god’s of Baal. Yahweh had stopped the rains over which the god’s of Baal were supposed to be supreme, Yahweh had slaughtered all those false prophets – so who was really in charge?
Have you ever done anything that you knew to be the right course of action but it has still left you sick to you stomach? Were you afraid of the consequences? Did you find it difficult to look people in the eye because you had the courage to go against the popular view?
Have you ever been afraid? It’s OK to admit it. In our lives we have all, at some time, been faced with some illness or some situation that has left us feeling scared – it’s OK to admit it – you are not showing weakness but rather a strength. The stiff upper lip is not always the best course of action. When we are afraid we need to share that fear. If for no other reason that it enables prayer.
Someone once gave me a little saying and it is one I try to live by.
Prayer is not a substitute for action.
It is an action for which there is no substitute.
So the risk to Elijah was great – his life was in danger if Jezebel caught him. He took the only course of action that seemed possible to him – he was scared – the flight reaction won!! He didn’t want to stay around to see what might happen! What would we have done?
The Retreat
Many translations suggest that Elijah was depressed. To be honest I think he was plain scared – he was afraid for his life. Jezebel was a cruel, vindictive woman.
So Elijah runs away feeling very sorry for him-self but scared to death of what she might do to him if he is caught.
Now we have to consider another aspect of this flight – was he running for his life or for his soul?
He had been exposed to the god’s of Baal yet as a prophet of Yahweh he had shown the power of the living God. Isn’t that also the position we often find ourselves in? We are affected by what happens in the world around us, yet we know we have an all powerful Father God – who knows all the hairs on our heads.
Our experience of the world is a powerful influence on us yet we know that the power of God is far greater – but that doesn’t always prevent us from worrying and being scared.
Sometimes we just want to hide. Elijah fled firstly to Beer-sheba where he left his servant. Was this because he did not intend returning? Did he intend to leave the country completely and never return? We are not told.
He travels into the desert for a day before sitting down under a broom tree (which I am told can grow to a height of 10ft.) to gain some shade. He is so despondent that he asks God to end his life. For “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors” He is about as low and as scared as a person may be.
He lay down to sleep but an angel came to him with food and told him to eat and drink, then he lay down again. Then another angel came with food only this time he was told he had a long journey ahead of him. He was to travel for 40 days and nights until he reached Mount Sinia where he went into a cave and slept.
Now the message for me is in the sustenance he was given – it was enough to keep him going for 40 days and nights. So was this ‘food’ as much for his soul as for his body. Jesus tells us he will be with us always, he will sustain us through all our trials and tribulations just as Yahweh was there for Elijah.
The retreat was at first fairly quick but then it took him 40 days and nights to complete his journey to Mount Sinai – was God giving him time to think things through to begin to get things into perspective. When something happens to us, don’t we need time to come to terms with the news or events? A quick reaction may save our life in certain circumstances but sometimes we need to stand back and listen to God’s instructions and guidance before we move forward.
The Result
What are you doing here, Elijah? It is I feel a gentle question. God knows how Elijah is feeling but he wants him ask himself the question before answering.
His reply - v10 (Read)
To which God simply replies ‘go and stand before me on the mountain.’ It may according to some biblical scholars be the same cave/part of the mountain used by Moses!!
Elijah stood there.
He experienced the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. But God was not in any of those.
These signs are usually associated with power – they can shake us to our very core.
BUT – God spoke to Elijah with the sound of a gentle whisper. God does not only reveal himself in powerful ways. To look for God only in the momentous things in life will cause us to miss Him, because he is often found gently whispering into the quietness of a humble heart.
Are you listening for God?
Step back from the noise and activity of your busy life, and listen humbly and quietly for His guidance. It may come when you least expect it.
In verses 16 to 17 we are shown that although God is slow to anger – He will not contain His wrath for ever.
Elijah is told to go back the way he came (can you imagine what he must have felt?) He is told to anoint Hazael as king of Aram and Jehu as king of Israel and Elisha as his replacement as God’s prophet. These men will ensure that anyone who had ever kissed or bowed down to Baal would be killed. However, there would be seven thousand in Israel who would by God’s grace survive.
So Elijah goes to find Elisha, who is busy ploughing a field. He places his cloak on Elisha’s shoulders as a sign that he would become Elijah’s successor. Why was this so important – In this society we have to remember that a cloak was probably one of the most important articles of clothing that anyone would own so that anyone might give theirs away was an important sign.
Conclusion
So what is the message for us today?
It is OK to be scared.
Yes we might feel like running away and hiding.
Yes we might feel very alone.
But we need to turn to God – He will give us the guidance and comfort we need.
However, there will be times that we need to humble ourselves before God – to be quiet and to listen. Give God chance to speak to us.
Amen
Questions for further reflection
- What was Elijah really afraid of? Was it really just Jezebel and her threat?
- Was Elijah depressed or just plain scared. What was the cause of his problem? Was it physical, spiritual, psychological or demonic?
- How did God restore him? How do we know that the food brought by the Angel was really from God?
- What do you think about the earthquake, wind and fire – what was its purpose? What was so special about the ‘still small voice’?
- Why do you think God brings Hazael. Jehu and Elisha into the story – theirs is a such a dramatic role.
- What can we learn from this story to help us through the darker periods in our lives.
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