Read 1 Kings 19
Elijah Flees to Horeb
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 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.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 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.
7 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.” 8 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. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
The Lord Appears to Elijah
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “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.”
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “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.”
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
The Call of Elisha
19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
Go Deeper
Elijah, God’s bold, faithful prophet, has just experienced God’s spectacular display of power discrediting any semblance of Baal’s divinity. However, Elijah’s boldness and God’s response fuel a rage in Queen Jezebel that prompts her threat to kill Elijah. Elijah, fearing for his life, runs long and hard collapsing in exhaustion and despair, even asking God to end his life. Though Elijah expresses his zeal for the Lord, he is discouraged in the response of his people, the Israelites. Elijah is certain he is alone. In his weakness and terror, he seems to forget God’s faithful provision and protection of the past three and a half years.
It’s an incredibly human and relatable moment we see from Elijah. Let’s focus our attention on God’s merciful actions in Elijah’s time of personal, spiritual crisis. God never leaves Elijah in his fear or exhaustion. God provides for Elijah’s physical nourishment by gently awakening him with food. God nourishes him enough for a 40-day journey. Arriving at Mt. Horeb, God converses with Elijah, asking a question and listening to Elijah’s reply.
God then reveals Himself, not in the spectacular display of power Elijah witnessed when confronting Baal worshippers, but in a gentle whisper. Even as Elijah answers with a discouraged statement, God encourages him by giving him tasks that usher in new leadership and provide for Elijah’s successor, Elisha. The Lord also assures Elijah that he alone is not the only Israelite who worships God. God has a remnant of 7,000 who are faithful to Him.
For any of us who face weariness, fear, doubt, or struggles that appear insurmountable, what encouragement there is! God is with us. He hears us. He cares. He provides. He tenderly and mercifully holds us in our times of greatest need. When our body, mind, and spirit is weak, Jesus reminds us to “come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Questions
- What do you fear that needs a dose of “remembering God’s faithfulness” in your life?
- How has God encouraged you in times of discouragement or weariness?
- With whom might you offer a word or deed of encouragement today?
Did You Know?
The Mountain of God, Mt. Horeb, where Elijah hears God’s gentle whisper is the same mountain where God revealed Himself to Moses.
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7 responses to “1 Kings 19”
13 And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
We live in a noisy world filled with family, friends, media, “influencers”, et al who want to tell us what to think, what to say, and what to do. Instead we need to tune out the noise and listen for God’s whisper, His “still small voice”.
I’m encouraged that even Elijah, God’s mighty prophet, experienced the highs and lows of life and found that God met him in each circumstance. God’s faithfulness was undeterred by human conditions and through each one proved his sovereignty. No one can thwart his plan, power, or purpose. Let that sink into our hearts and encourage us to fully trust that he is good and merciful no matter what we are facing. God wins!
God wins! Amen!
God was with Elijah all the way. It was a most spiritual moment and then, like Peter, and me, he took His eyes off God and was walking by sight not by faith. God had answered his prayersand been upon hiim during the storms. He felt the let down after the most high emotional points. He let the world’s whispers overtake God’s. He was exhaust ed mental and physically. BUT GOD in His grace came andgave him food and drink for strength to get to another finish line.
“What are you dong here?” (Why did you leave what I have called you to/for?)
Do not let pride and self pity take you away from what God has for you. Yes, God can use wind, storms, ect but most of the time it is in a still small voice that God gentle admonishes us. God uses many tools to get our attention to accomplish His work in and through us. BUT GOD IS in a gentle tone, so that He can refresh, cleane and produce life in a whisper.
(All of my life I have heard that God talks to you in a still small voice but did not know where that came from. It is here. Verse 12b And after the fire came a gentle whisper.)
God thank you for continuing to show me my pride. Thank You that I can get out of the pig pen of self pity!! Thank You that You see me through the blood of the Lamb and not this dirty self. God thank You for those gentle whispers. God help me to be what You desire me to do and be. God I give you my stress and worry with open hands. Thank You for guiding me in reverent AWE of peace and the privlege to spread the Gospel. Thank You for HC and the leadership there, that You fill them and renew their sense of reverent AWE. You have given me a covenant that You will lead and guide me as I ask. God help me to walk quietly and consistently in peace and uprightness, standing in AWE, teaching in truth, giving guidance, sowing seeds where I can and trusting You. Psalm 25:4-5
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Thank You God for these minutes of this day that I am willing to hear (shema) YOur voice and follow Your paths, truths, and teachings all day long in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
I ask myself the same question when I wallow in self-pity.
God is with me and has never left me alone in any circumstance. To read about Elijah, a prophet and his fear, motivates me to press into Jesus and
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 God’s presence assured.
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I’m wondering how many can honestly say they’ve truly felt Gods presence during Job seasons.
I’m wondering how many can honestly say they’ve truly felt Gods presence during Job seasons.