1 Kings 19 ~ Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

1 Kings 19

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs 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 broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your 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 out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke 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 the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your 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 to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.



When mankind encounters the enormous acts of the LORD, usually there is fear.  Yesterday we remembered fear is used 437 times in the Scriptures - fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. In this Scripture we recall it isn't just the heathen struck by fear. By the power of the Acts of GOD.  Usually people want the comfort of company, Elijah is so beaten down, he craves being alone. Christians should always remember Jesus did not replace the fearful disciples and say, "God, we need better people." They were frequently confused and fearful even when the walked with Jesus. And Jesus reached His hand out to them.

This isn't just another story of God using the weak to overcome the strong, it is a story of how depleted even doing the work of the LORD can be.  And it requires something we have to see in our everyday lives, today -  requiring faith to see the hand of the LORD in our lives. God providing what we Need in our lives.

Wow.

And in our pondering and wondering in life, to realize what we attach meaning to isn't always the Way, the Truth and the Life.  However, we are instructed in this passage, we will Know when God is speaking to us.

In the bleakest and least joyous portion of Elijah's life, following the great and almighty act of the Lord,  Elijah hears a strong message of hope. There are others who love the Lord as he does, there are others pulling for the Lord and relying upon Him. Others sharing Elijah's hope and in awe of the Lord. God is giving Elisha as a helper, not just a replacement. Elijah will have days ahead knowing his greatest hope is realized, his work will continue. The Lord is stepping forward. Strengthening Elijah, restoring him, giving him a task dear to the Lord, seeing the Lord provide for him - even and up to his gathering up.

Thank You, Father God. You provide for us. You tell us that when we are hard pressed and discouraged - You are there. Even when doing the right thing is difficult. You tell us to have hope and press forward. Even when You are very quiet, You are there. We give You thanks, in the name of Jesus Christ.

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