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1KINGS
CHAPTER 19

1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

Well, Elijah had been faithful to God. He had prayed for NO rain, and there was no rain. He had prayed FOR rain, and there was rain. He had withstood the agony of loneliness and the pain of separation in order to fulfill his commitment to God. He had suffered hardship in the most excruciating manner.
And God had accomplished His purpose for that time with Elijah. He had shown without a doubt that there is NO GOD besides Jehovah!
But Jezebel wouldn't believe that. How can someone SEE the miracle power of God and not believe? Hmmm - millions do that EVERY DAY!
Jezebel was not only NOT going to believe, but she was going to try and DESTROY Elijah because he was Jehovah's representative. She vowed to take Elijah's life, just as he had taken the lives of her false prophets.

3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

Somehow this is hard to imagine. Here is one of God's greatest all-time prophets...a man given so much grace from God that he didn't even DIE! Here is a man given so much POWER from God taht he could personally kill 850 men in one afternoon; and a man who could call fire down from heaven. If God has a group of ALL-STARS on His prophet team, Elijah would have to be on the starting team for sure.
But this great prophet is not RUNNING from a WOMAN!
At first it seems like he's AFRAID. And he probably was. He actually ran "for his life" (verse 3). And there is no doubt whatsoever that Elijah is TIRED of the hullabaloo! He's tired fo "fighting the establishment." He's tired of being God's "frontrunner." We see that in verse 4, where Elijah says, "It is enough now, O Lord, take away my life..."
However, there is something we might miss here. And it is really an inspiration. Notice WHERE Elijah runs: BEERSHEBA. This is a significant place in the Bible. It is on the Southernmost area of Judah, and borders the Egyptian desert. It was here that Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant, and water rights were guaranteed to Abraham. It was here that Hagar asked God to not let her see her son die. It was here that Jacob stopped to pray and receive encouragement before carrying his family down to Egypt.
This place is significant because it represents the "edge of a spiritual desert," and an "oasis of God's comfort and encouragement."
Elijah left his servant here, then Elijah went on to be alone with God in the desert. yes. Elijah was TIRED; tired of "fighting Town Hall." But Elijah KNEW where to go and find STRENGTH. yes. He was really ready to DIE. But he was CONVINCED that strength could be found by being ALONE WITH GOD!
There is a great lesson here! Most Christians today, when they get tired and discouraged, WITHDRAW from aloneness with God rather than spend MORE TIME with God in aloneness.
When we run into difficulties that overwhelm us, and our minds and even our spirits become "befuddled" (to use a phrase of my grandmother's), THAT'S when we need to spend MORE TIME alone with God!
That's when we need to withdraw from the cares of the world and just pray and seek God's Presence and Power.
Yes. THAT seems more like the Elijah of the Bible. Yes. He was afraid, but he ran not only to preserve his life; he was also running to find CLOSENESS with God!

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

And look at this: God SHOWED UP! First, an angel came and fed him. Now, I believe that this food was physical food all right; but it certainly had a SPIRITUAL power! After Elijah had rested and eaten twice, he was able to go 40 days and nights WITHOUT any more food!
We need HEAVEN food more than world-food; we need SPIRITUAL blessings more than worldly things! And we can only get that when we WITHDRAW for a short time, and just GET ALONE with God.
Now Elijah goes to ANOTHER significant place - Mt. Horeb, which is another name for Mt. Sinai. Located in the NW area of modern Arabia, this region is famous for the "mountain that shined." That's the meaning for Mt. Sinai. It is referred to as the "mountain of God" (Exodus 3:1), and the "mount of the Lord" (Numbers 10:33). This is where Moses received the ten commandments and the laws for Israel to live by. This is where God's power came down and visibly SHOOK the surrounding area; and where God spoke to Moses "face to face."
Wouldn't you like to go there and just wander around looking, and reflecting on the great things God did there? Will trips like that really serve to give us a keen sense of God's PRESENCE? Yes; and that's why God led Elijah there!

9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Because the next thing that happens is that God speaks to Elijah! God asked him why he was there, and Elijah replied that he felt like he was the ONLY one left to stand up for God. Not only that, but EVERYONE wanted to kill him because of his stand. Was that a "pity-party" or what?
I believe what Elijah is saying here is that he's tired and he needs strength. God told him to go out and stand on the mountain. Then there was a great strong wind; and then a great earthquake; and then a great fire, but God was not speaking through any of those.
Then there came a "still small voice." OH! What a wonderful God we have! He has all power and can cause tremendous upheaval all around us; but He still speaks in that "still small voice." And His voice gives us the direction that is necessary to LIVE through the storms and upheaval of life.
Again, God asked why Elijah is there, and Elijah gave the same reply. Elijah is really laying out his feelings before God, and simply waiting for God to tell him what to do.
God's next word to Elijah was a ministry to perform. Elijah was to "anoint" Hazael as king over Syria (verse 15). WOW! WHY? Here is a man of God, and he is to anoint a man who defies God. WHY?
God was tired too!! Tired of Israel turning to idolatry. And God had a plan of punishment. He revealed it to Elijah by telling him to "anoint" Hazael. Hazael was the chief officer of King Benhadad of Syria. Later, Hazael killed King Benhadad, took over the Syrian kingdom and invaded Isrel. He murdered many of them and took thousands captive. Then he scattered the captives all over the world.
God also told Elijah to anoint Jehu as king over Israel (verse 16). God had told Israel that He was a "JEALOUS" God, and wouldn't allow idolatry. He had been merciful and allowed their treachery many times; but now it was ENOUGH! Anointing Jehu started a trail of blood. Jehu was responsible for the deaths of Joram (King of Israel), Ahaziah (King of Judah), and Jezebel. He also personally saw to it that some 70 members of Ahab's family were killed. Jehu personaly, and with blood-letting, literally destroyed baalism in Israel.
God also told Elijah to anoint Elisha as his own replacement. Later, Elisha would watch as Elijah ascended into heaven in the chariot of fire which the Lord sent for him. Elisha would become an even MORE powerful prophet than Elijah!
Indeed, God had given Elijah a tremendous ministry to accomplish. Also, God had assured him there were 7,000 men in Israel who had NEVER bowed down to baal (verse 18). OH! Yes! There ARE others who will stand up for God. We are NOT ALONE!

19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

This is one of the most interesting passages of Scripture about Elijah and Elisha. Elijah suddenly appeared one day as Elisha was plowing. Elijah came walking by Elisha, and quitely took off his "mantle" (a prophet's insignia) and placed it on Elisha's shoulders. WOW! No word, no charge, no statement at all - just an "anointing."
What was Elisha to do? He quickly ran after Elijah and said, "Just give me time to say good-bye and I will follow you - I KNOW this call is from God."
And here is the curious thing. Elijah's reply was, "OK. You do what you think is best. I've only told you of God's CALL. It's up to YOU what yo do with it!"
My friends, when God calls you to be a Christian, He effectively places the "mantle" of ministry upon your shoulders. He lets you know of your "calling." Now what you DO with it is up to YOU!
You can be unfaithful, minister like Jonah, and die in bitterness. Or you can be a faithful minister like Elisha and live in God's POWER.
Elisha sacrificed his oxen and gave a great feast. He was severing himself from his occupation and turning his focus SOLELY upon God's calling to the ministry. He also, by giving the feats, said "good-bye" to all his kinfolk. He was severing himsefl from any encumbering ties so that his focus on the ministry would not be detoured.
OH! How Christians need to learn the meaning of COMMITMENT!

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