Victories & Fears - Part 2!!!
1 Kings 19
In this second part of our exploration of Elijah and his journey from victory to fear. In the first part of this series, we look at 1 Kings 18, where Elijah killed the priests of Ba’al and Asherah after God defeated them on Mount Carmel. For Elijah it was a stunning victory which led to the repentance of the northern nation of Israel, and their return to worshiping God (Yahweh). That change of heart by Israel led to the releasing of the drought/famine conditions and rain returned to the land.
Yet, in a very short period of time Elijah faced a death threat from Queen Jezebel - and so he ran…he ran far away.
(artwork by Schism)
In 1 Kings 19:1-18 we see how this plays out, and even in the darkest of Elijah’s experiences God provided for him, and spoke to him.
Elijah’s experience is no different than what many of us have faced. In some aspect of our lives we get victory, and we get momentum in life…but then something happens to tears that away from us. Our reactions to those events might even mirror those of Elijah.
In 1 Kings:3-4 we see that, “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
I know what this is like…to feel like you are stuck out in a dry, barren wilderness…and that you feel like you just want to die - all because you have had enough. Enough of the struggle, enough of the turmoil, enough of the opposition.
Elijah’s prayer - while misguided - is at least honest, and God honours honest prayers.
God heard Elijah’s prayer. HE didn’t answer it like Elijah wanted. Instead God send an angel to minister to look after Elijah. In 1 Kings 19:5-9 we see how the angel ministers to Elijah, when it says “Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.”
Twice God sent an angel to provide nourishment for Elijah. It is actually important to eat well while you are going through a dark, depressive time in your life. Eating out of emotions will only serve to heighten the despair you are feeling.
Just as important is rest, real deep rest (and yes, I know…that’s often easier said than done).
But most importantly, the angel told Elijah that things were going to get more difficult. And so Elijah ends up walking 40 days to get to a very sacred place - Mount Horeb (personally, I think there is a case for it being in Saudi Arabia and not in the Sinai Peninsula - but that is a discussion for another day).
Mount Horeb is the mountain where Moses received the 10 Commandments, and is near where God provided water out of the rock. The presence of God (Yahweh) was so strong that the top of the mountain was burnt. It was to this place that Elijah fled. Sometimes in our darkest times we need to seek a place that is sacred, a place where God has spoken to us previously. It is in this place that God will speak into our lives.
In 1 Kings 19:9-18 we see the conclusion of this story.
Elijah is hiding in a cave on Mount Horeb when God spoke to him. Sometimes we are hiding in dark places when God speaks to us, and speaks into our situation. God speaks in a very simple way - HE says “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (verse 9). It is a simple question, with a simple answer - yet Elijah responds with a huge excuse “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (verse 10). How often do we respond to God’s questions and promptings of the Holy Spirit with long convoluted stories and excuses of our own.
God’s response is brilliant. He asks Elijah to go to the mouth of the cave. There, God proceeded to have great gales of wind tearing the mountain apart, then an earthquake shook the whole region, then a great fire rose up and consumed the mountain side - But God wasn’t in any of those things.
It makes you wonder why really?
But when you consider the events that Elijah had been part of they make perfect sense. When Elijah confronted the priests of Ba’al and Asherah it was god using an all consuming fire that highlighted that miraculous event. In the mountain cave, God was showing Elijah that he doesn’t always speak in the same way, and HE doesn’t always speak in large grandiose ways either. Rather, sometimes, when we really need to listen for HIM, HE speaks in the ‘still small voice’ (verse 12). Perhaps it is time to stop expecting God to speak to you in big showy ways (like dreams, or visions, or some prophetic word from a preacher or evangelist) - but take the time to separate yourself out from the noise and distraction of this world to listen for that small still voice.
Then God repeats how query of Elijah, and Elijah responds with the same excuse and fear laden statement. God says to Elijah, you aren’t the only prophet out there, I have set aside a remnant of 7,000 other prophets. There are times in our life when we are doing things for the Lord and it seems as if we are doing it alone - but the reality of it is that there are multitudes of other believers all doing what God has asked them to do. You aren’t alone, so don’t be afraid of making a stand for your faith and for your God.
Do not be like Elijah and give away a victory just because someone, or some event has brought your mood down, or led us to despair about our situation and life. Romans 8:38-39 should encourage us by letting us know, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - this should be a scripture to hold on to in every dark situation you face.
May the grace, mercy and love of God be upon you…