Prophet Elijah Faces God on Mt. Horeb
Last Days of Elijah Reveal Much About Faith's Fickle Nature
At the close of 1 Kings 18, Elijah had defeated 450 false prophets representing Baal, exposing their so-called god as a non-entity while demonstrating the power of the God he served. Elijah demonstrated his faith, and through faith gained victory. His story, however, took a turn in 1 Kings chapter 19.
Elijah Flees From Jezebel
"And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done...Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, 'So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.'" (1 Kings 19:2-3)
Jezebel was unrepentant of her service to Baal, unimpressed with Elijah’s display of God’s power, and unhappy that 450 of her prophets had been killed. Her warning to Elijah shook him to the core. The man whose faith made it possible to stand up to 450 men now could do nothing but run and hide.
He kept on running, all the way to Beersheba, a town out of the reach of Jezebel’s authority. (v. 3) But even there he did not stop.
Elijah Prays For His Own Death
"But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die." (v. 4)
He said, "It is enough!" (v. 4) Elijah was at his breaking point, hiding from danger and yet pleading for God to take his life: it was not exactly a heroic follow-up to his victory at Mount Carmel.
James 5:17 says Elijah was "a man with a nature like ours," meaning he faced the same struggles as anyone else. Yet looking back over his life, Elijah accomplished a great deal. Even so, sitting under the broom tree, he was ready to give it all up.
An Angel Ministers to Elijah
Elijah lay under that tree, praying to God, maybe mumbling to himself as he reflected on his flight from Jezreel. Before long he was asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, "Arise, and eat." (v. 5)
The angel handed him a cake baked on coals and a jar of water. Elijah ate and drank, but he was still so tired and weak that he fell asleep again. After a time the angel came back, touched him again, and said, "Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you." (v. 6-7)
“He arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.” (v. 8) Finally Elijah arrived at the mountain, and the account continues: "And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to Him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'" (v. 9)
On the surface this question doesn’t seem to make sense. He was there because he was told to go there. Obviously, God was aware of this, since the trip was His own undertaking. What’s going on with this line of questioning? Elijah’s answer gives some insight. It sounds more like an explanation for being under the broom tree than for being in this cave at Horeb. Elijah was explaining his mental state more than anything else. In his mind, he was still under that tree. He was making excuses for his prayer for death.
Elijah's Zeal Not Enough
Which Elijah do most Christians try to emulate — the faithful prophet calling down fire, or the caveman on the defensive? The one spending his time doing the work he was called to do, or explaining why it can’t be done?
Elijah felt like he was the only faithful one left. (v. 10) In making that kind of distinction between himself and all others, he exhibited signs of a superiority complex, and his motives for even doing the work had to be called into question. Elijah's reply spoke of his zealousness for the work. (v. 10) But clearly, zealousness wasn't enough.
"And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." God made him stand amidst all this destructive power, then chose to communicate with him in a voice that was barely audible, to teach him something.
In some ways, Elijah may have most desired the powerful public demonstrations of God’s power, like raising the widow’s son from the dead and witnessing fire rain down from heaven. But God wanted Elijah to be no less attuned to His commands in the silent times, when no outward evidence existed pointing to his divine commission. He wanted Elijah to be able to detect His presence after the fire, to sharpen his senses, to listen for His leading when all seemed lost.
Elijah had essentially asked God why he should bother continuing his work when it seemed to no avail. In giving him food and drink to prepare him for the next part of his journey, God had answered that question without uttering a word: he took care of him, sustained him, and strengthened him physically even as Elijah struggled spiritually. Elijah had to press on because his work for the Lord wasn’t finished. Even in his perceived failure, Elijah was being prepared for what would come next.
Sources:
- Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
1 Kings 19 Elijah Meets God on Mt. Horeb
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