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.
Imagine everybody’s shock as
Elijah, the man who had slain thousands of prophets and had called down fire,
fled across the desert to scared to rest and too ashamed to look the people in
the face. Imagine his sense of failure and the challenge and beating his
manhood had taken.
What had come over him? What
caused him to suddenly bolt and the sound of Jezebels voice? Why would a man,
who faced off against thousands of devil inspired prophets suddenly blanch at
the high pitched threats of a power mad woman? That we shall never know for the
Bible does not tell us so.
But one thing is for sure, he
felt dejected, alone, tired and worn out and probably angry and bitter. He
could have been angry and bitter at all the ‘other’ prophets who had deserted
and left him standing alone. Maybe he was angry at a former class mate or
village friend who has shied away when he needed them most. I do not know.
But one thing I am sure he felt
was shame and a sense of failure. He dealt with one of number one fears every
man deals with almost daily. He had failed. He had blown it. People were
counting on him and he had no solution.
So he did the only thing he knew
how to. He fled. To the only place he knew so well, the desert. Remember that
before the confrontation at Horeb he and Ahab had played cat and mouse in these
very desert waddies and he had managed to keep one step ahead all this time.
And so he figured that he could
do it one more time. Run to familiar territories and probably the solace of
solitude. He did not have to answer to anyone out there, explain to them or
meet their gaze. He did not have to face their accusing stares no measure his
achievements against those that had come before.
Elijah the mighty prophet was
running away not just from Jezebel but from his own heavy conscience.
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.
One thing is for sure heavy
burdens are exhausting and Elijah could run no more. The weight of his heart
brought him to his knees and he cried out to God and promptly fell into a deep
sleep.
Thank God for sleep.
He considered leaving his call, “I have had enough, LORD,”
Elijah despaired of life. “Take my life”
He disregarded his past
achievement and compared himself to those that came before him, “I am no better than my ancestors”
He embraced failure.
But
God had other plans
All at once an angel touched him
and said, “Get up and eat.” 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.
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.” 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.
I am always fascinated by the
last bit of verse 8, ‘he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached
Horeb, THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD.
God did not curse him nor did he
cast him out. God did not sternly rebuke nor did he reprimand him for his poor
showing instead God arranged for room service, a meal and an encounter that
would remind Elijah not just of who he(Elijah) was but also of who God was and
still is.
Elijah lamented, twice how bad
things were but God did not even flinch. Instead he tells Elijah to go anoint
kings and anoint his own successor. God plans were in no way limited by the
actions of Elijah or those of Jezebel.
God showed him one again just how
power full he was and hose determined he was to bring all that Elijah had been
told to pass. He was committed 100 percent even when Elijah was down and almost
out.
And he stired again the heart of
the prophet and gave him encouraging word, “you are not alone my friend for I
have 700 others like you who have neither bowed their knee nor worshiped Baal.
Gods way and plan cannot be
halted and His commitment and love towards us and out wellbeing is an ever
fixed and immovable fact….
Other Random Facts
I haven’t slept properly in a week.
Some coffee really gives you bad heart burns.
Creativity is not synonymous with spontaneity.
God, He understands.
