SCRIPTURE: 1 KINGS 19
ELIJAH FLEES TO HOREB (vs. 1-9)
When King Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he killed all the prophets with the sword, Jezebel sent a messenger to tell Elijah that by this time tomorrow, he will be killed. Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. He went a day’s journey and arrived at Beersheba in Judah. He journeyed into the desert and sat down in a brown tree praying to God saying:” “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life. I am no better than any ancestors” (v. 4). Then he laid down under the tree and fell asleep.
An angel touched him and told him to get up and eat. When he looked around, he saw a cake of bread baked over hot coals and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then laid down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him saying: “Get up and eat for the journey is too much for you” (v. 7). So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled 30 days and nights until he reached Mt. Horeb. Then he went into a cave and spent the night.
THE LORD APPEARS TO ELIJAH (vs. 10-18)
Before the Lord appeared to Elijah, there was a great and powerful wind that tore the mountain and shattered the rock. After the wind, there was an earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire. And after the fire, came a gentle whisper. Then Elijah went out and stood at the mountain of the cave. Then the Lord appeared and said to him: “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to suceed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him” (vs. 15-18)
THE CALL OF ELISHA (vs. 19-21)
Elijah went to the Desert of Damascus to find Elisha plowing with 12 yoke of oxen. Elijah went up and threw his cloak around him. Elisha took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.
THOUGHTS:
Elijah lost faith and ran for his life when he heard the words of Jezebel. He was not afraid of 850 prophets but ran away from the threat of a woman. He forgot how God had cared for him 3-1/2 years and replaced faith with fear.
Elijah thought that he was the only one left so he asked God to take away his life. Sometimes, we feel so depressed about ourselves and face with circumstances that we wish God would call us home. This is not the answer to despair because it does not glorify God. The real answer is to surrender ourselves by trusting God to work things out for us.
The experience in the life of Elijah is a good warning against despondency and discouragement when we fell that we have accomplished nothing. God reveals that He has used us more than we realized. The best solution for discouragement is to wait upon the Lord.
After two great spiritual actions – the defeat of the prophets of Baal and the answered prayer of rain, Elijah experienced the depths of fatigue and discouragement. Often discouragement sets in after great spiritual experience especially those requiring physical effort in involving great emotion. God let Elijah rest and eat to lead him out of depression. Then God confronted him with the need to return to his mission of speaking God’s word on Israel. Elijah’s battle were not over. There was still work for him to do. When you feel let down after a great spiritual experience, remember that God’s purpose for your life is not yet over.,
GOD ASK ELIJAH TO ANOINT THREE PEOPLE:
- Hazael as king of Aram – God will use him as his instrument to punish Israel for its sin.
- Jehu – as king over Israel. He will put to death anyone who escape the sword of Hazael
- Elisha – he was to succeed Elijah as prophet
The cloak was an important clothing used to protect against the weather, as bedding and as a place to send and as luggage. It could be used as a pledge for a debt or torn into pieces to show grief. Elijah put his cloak on Elisha’s shoulder to show that he would succeed him as a prophet. Later, the transfer was completed when Elijah left his cloak for Elisha.