Good Morning Friends,
“Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had
done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 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.’ 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 desert. He
came to a broom tree, 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.’ Then
he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.” (1 Kings 19:1-5)
This is one of the most amazing stories in the
whole Bible. Elijah is depressed because of the threat of Jezebel. He doesn’t
even think his life is worth living. When Elijah heard the threat of Queen
Jezebel he fled. He ran to Beersheba. That’s quite a distance – about a hundred
miles – from the middle of the northern kingdom of Israel to the southern part
of the southern kingdom of Judah. He was afraid and he ran for his life. When
he finally arrived at Beersheba the distance he had put between himself and
Jezebel did not settle his nerves. He was ready to lay down and die.
What makes this story so amazing is the event
that came immediately before it. Jezebel was angry at Elijah because of his
great victory at Mt. Carmel. He had done spiritual battle against the prophets
of Baal and God had answered his prayers in miraculous ways. The prophets of Baal
had been killed. The people hard turned back to the Lord. God had lifted the three
year drought that He sent on Israel. All of that was God’s ministry through His
prophet, Elijah. If ever anyone could say they had been used mightily by God
Elijah could say that right then.
Elijah had just trusted God far more than I can
imagine trusting Him – calling on Him to send fire in the contest between the
prophets of Baal and himself. God showed Himself absolutely trustworthy. Then
Elijah turns around and at the threat of a human queen he runs for his life …
terrified.
Where was his trust in God now? Where was
Elijah’s belief that God could use him? Where was his faith? It was gone … so
quickly.
God did such amazing things through Elijah –
but Elijah showed himself to be a weak man … just like you and me! It’s an
amazing story … and an encouraging one for me … because I act just like Elijah
… often.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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