|
|
1 Kings Chapter 19
Elijah Leaves Fears Jezebel's Threats
- 1Kings 19:1 And Ahab
told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had
slain all the prophets with the sword.
- 2 Then Jezebel sent
a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and
more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by
to morrow about this time.
Jezebel had a chance to find the real
God and live a holy life. God gave her an Ahab an opportunity to
find salvation but as many do, they make the wrong choice and
continue on with no repentance. Her end is sad. No one gets away
with their blantant sin against God's people with no repentance.
When I say repentance I mean a real desire to change and live for
God, not a surface repentance just to save one's life and escape the
wrath of God. Jezebel had none of either. She like her controlling
religion and wanted to stay that way. Being mad enough to make
public her threats really helped Elijah to flee while he had the
chance.
- 1 Kings Chapter 3
And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came
to Beersheba, which belongeth 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 juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might
die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for
I am not better than my fathers.
Elijah was tired and weary, perhaps too
he was disappointed that all the work he did to prove that God was
the real God and not the idols, didn't turn the hearts of Ahab and
Jezebel. Sometimes no matter what we do though, some will not
believe. He wanted to die but Elijah is still alive in preserved
in his natural body. Like Enoch before him he goes to Heaven without
dying a natural death. Perhaps they are the two witnesses that come
back during the great tribulation just before Jesus comes to set up
His kingdom on earth. We don't know that for sure but we can trust
that God knows and that is what counts. Elijah's work on earth is
not yet done though. We see him talking with Jesus years later.
- Mark 9:2 And
after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John,
and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves:
and he was transfigured before them.
- 3 And his
raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller
on earth can white them.
- 4 And there
appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with
Jesus.
The bible is an interesting fascinating
book to study and dig deep into what we read in it.
- 1Kings 19:5 And as
he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel
touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
- 6 And he looked,
and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of
water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down
again.
- 7 And the angel of
the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said,
Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
- 8 And he arose, and
did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty
days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
God seems to send angels in desparate
situations. He never abandons those that trust in Him.
The Lord Prepares Elijah for His departure
into Heaven.
- 1Kings 19:9 And he
came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the
word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest
thou here, Elijah?
- 10 And he said, I
have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the
children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine
altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I
only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
We see the heart of Elijah here. He
didn't flee only for his own life but was feeling like a failure. It
would be like someone who fasted, prayed, a studied for days to
prepare a message to give to an audience only to see his message
rejected and on top of that see his own life in danger.
- 1Kings 19:11 And he
said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And,
behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the
mountains, and brake 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 a still small voice.
- 13 And it was so,
when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle,
and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And,
behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou
here, Elijah?
God sometimes speaks when it is still
and quiet and we hear no sound except His voice. I have been in
church services where it would get quiet and if someone obeys the
Lord, a prophecy or tongues and interpretation is given to the whole
congregation.
- 1Kings 19:14 And he
said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts:
because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant,
thrown down thine altars, and slain thy 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
unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus:
and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
- 16 And Jehu the son
of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha
the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be
prophet in thy room.
This shows us that God does have a hand
in who is set up as leaders of nations. This never means that the
people in power are those that are good. Sometimes it is who the
people deserve to get. By our choices or by our failures, God may
allow good leaders or bad. This is why believers must pray for our
leaders and pray that we get good leadership.
- 1Kings 19:17 And it
shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael
shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu
shall Elisha slay.
- 18 Yet I have left
me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed
unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
God is going to use those kings to come
against Israel for their sin of idolatry. God does remind Elijah
here that he is not alone. Seven thousand in Israel did not depart
from God and commit idolatry. Many times I grieve for the United
States but surely we have more than seven thousand that still love
God and are faithful to Jesus our Lord.
The Call of Elisha
- 1Kings 19:19 So he
departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was
plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the
twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon
him.
- 20 And he left the
oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss
my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he
said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
- 21 And he returned
back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and
boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave
unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after
Elijah, and ministered unto him.
Elisha did not hesitate. He seemed to
be excited to be called of God to replace Elijah. He went to prepare
a feast for his family before he departed. No one hindered him from
his calling. He shared his joy with family and friends. I've been to
many services where we would pray for those that are called from our
congregations to serve the Lord. It is not meant for us to have one
big place to worship God and everyone stay there but to send others
out to start other churches or go out to the mission field to
whatever God has called them to. Elisha shared his news with many
first and then followed Elijah. Elisha was leaving his former life
behind to follow the Lord by way of Elijah. DC
1 Kings Chapter 20
|
|