Introduction: Sometimes after a positive experience, something awful comes along. These could be trials; they could be threats; they could be any number of things but one thing is for sure: the one who is going through it, probably wishes “I don’t want to go through this!”
Elijah had a set of experiences that he probably wished he didn’t have to go through but he endured through it all. Proving he was as human as we are, we’ll see a few of his emotions as we study this chapter.
1 A Time to Flee
Text: 1 Kings 19:1-8, KJV: 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. 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. 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
The events of chapter 18, the contest at Mount Carmel, were probably still fresh in Elijah’s mind while he and his servant were resting at Jezreel. Elijah had sent his servant to warn Ahab, king of the Ten Northern Tribes, that a downpour was coming and that he should get moving. Then Elijah had run before Ahab and his chariot all the way from Mt Carmel (implied) to Jezreel (see 1 Kings 18:45-46). That was a distance of perhaps 15-30 miles, depending on where they actually departed and arrived (per an on-line map at https://bibleatlas.org/full/jezreel.htm).
I’ve never been much of a runner, myself, and would think long and hard about running even one or two miles, even in my youth! Now imagine. let’s say, a 20-mile run, in the dark, and during what some would call a blinding rain. Elijah was probably trying to get some rest after all this while Ahab was telling his wife, Jezebel, all about what had happened the day before.
And Jezebel was furious! It’s bad enough she was a thorough, out-and-out heathen, she also sent one of the most threatening messages any man has ever received. Jezebel’s message in sum was, “The same thing you did to my prophets, I’ll do to you, tomorrow about this time (paraphrased)’.
I personally would not have wanted to be the messenger whom Jezebel sent! I mean, he didn’t have a whole lot of options: if he didn’t deliver the message, Jezebel could and probably would make his life absolutely miserable. If and when he reached Elijah, he may have heard about the fire falling from heaven—and figure, “I may be the next to be burned up!” (That did happen some years later, when Ahab’s son sent two squads of 50 men to arrest Elijah!)
Now, if Jezebel intended to scare Elijah, that tactic worked, Splendidly. I remember reading a message by the late Dr. Oliver B, Greene in which he wrote he would rather have over a dozen lions and tiger each coming after him instead of one evil woman! Elijah may have well felt the same way. He likely knew, or at least had heard, about all she had done to God’s true prophets in the Northern Tribes.
As a result of this message, threat, whatever anyone wants to call it, Elijah either yielded to fear or decided to take the safest course—he ran for dear life! From Jezreel he ran to Beersheba, one of the southernmost parts of all Israel, and left his servant there. But he didn’t stop there, at Beersheba; instead he went another day’s journey into the wilderness. No doubt he was worn out, physically and emotionally, but he found a “juniper tree” and slept there. Hastings’ Dictonary of the Bible mentions that this tree may well be one of the broom trees which grow in that part of the world, reaching a height of 7 to 8 feet according to (https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/hastings-dictionary-of-the-bible/juniper). Plenty of shade, then, so he could get plenty of rest!
One of the saddest things here is that he is re-tracing the steps of Israel, instead of heading into the Promised Land, back to Mount Horeb (close to, if not identical, with Mount Sinai). The LORD had wanted Israel—ALL Israel—to be united in one faith and one law, showing the rest of the world how great the God of Israel truly was. To say the least, Israel fell way short of that many times over. Instead of moving forward in victory, they wandered in the wilderness of, mostly, what seems to be the Sinai Peninsula and, folks, to be honest, the pictures I’ve seen of that area give me no reason to ever want to spend 40 minutes there, let alone 40 years! But sin not only brings forth death, as James would later write; sin also brings waste. For Israel, they wasted 40 years due to the sin of unbelief (see Numbers 13-14 for the whole story).
But even though Elijah had run for dear life, and was probably exhausted to the point of near death, the LORD had mercy and compassion on him. Just as He had provided for Elijah with the brook and the ravens, so the very Angel of the LORD came down to assist him. First, the Angel of the LORD touched Elijah and woke him up! The first thing the Angel said was “arise and eat” as Elijah was probably too afraid of Jezebel to stop for either food or water. Elijah saw a cake or, maybe, a piece of bread baked on coals and a “cruse” or pitcher of water.
Doesn’t that remind us of a prior incident? Elijah had told the widow of Zarephath that if she would make him a “little cake” and give him some water at the first, then the God of Israel would provide—and He did indeed! Now, this may be a gentle reminder that just as God was with Elijah at Zarephath, He would be with Elijah here in the wilderness, too, with the very same things he had requested before. It’s amazing how the LORD provides!
Elijah was still very tired indeed because he promptly “laid him down again” which to me means he once again fell into a very deep sleep. Of course there’s nothing wrong with getting adequate rest—the body needs it, and for proof, we don’t need to look any farther than our Lord Jesus Himself. True, there were times He spent all night in prayer but on at least a few different occasions, He was so tired He fell asleep in a boat while crossing the Sea of Galilee!
The Angel of the LORD touched Elijah the second time, telling him to once again “arise and eat” but this time the Angel added some very pointed, direct, words: “The journey is too great for you.” Someone once observed that the more one attempts, the less one achieves, and there is no glory in being constantly exhausted. Elijah needed food, water, and rest, and the Angel of the LORD came to make sure he got all of these. In fact, with the second meal, Elijah was able to go from wherever he was (I’ve never found a listing for “Juniper Tree” in Judah, humorously speaking!) all the way to Mount Horeb.
The Mountain of God.
And Elijah was about to experience something unique to only a few people.
2 A Time to Learn
Text, 1 Kings 19:9-14, KJV: 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.
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? 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.
The Angel of the LORD had given Elijah some food and water, something he desperately needed after his dash from Jezreel, to Beersheba, to somewhere in the wilderness of Judah. This was a distance of nearly 200 miles, according to Ellicott’s commentary, available online at (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/1_kings/19.htm). Eventually he reached Mount Horeb (the name for the range of mountains including Mount Sinai per the Expositor’s Bible Commentary at https://biblehub.com/commentaries/expositors/1_kings/19.htm) and lodged in a cave somewhere on the mountain, Some think this might have been the “cleft in the rock” where Moses stayed when the LORD passed by (see Exodus 33: 17-23) but this is not certain.
One thing that is certain is that Elijah heard the word of the LORD! Elijah had “lodged (a word meaning anything from spending a night at a place to making a more or less permanent dwelling per https://biblehub.com/text/1_kings/19-9.htm) in that cave. But something Elijah may not have been expecting was the question the LORD asked him. Elijah had learned much, it’s true, yet there was something more he needed to learn.
The LORD asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Of course the LORD knew why Elijah was there—he had run for his life to get away from Jezebel and the contract or “hit” she had placed on his life! Even so, the LORD expected an answer or account from Elijah directly. Something to remember: each one of us, saved or unsaved, will give an account of our deeds, too, whether at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) for saints or at the Great White Throne for unbelievers (Revelation 20:11-15). Ready or not, we’re all going to be judged.
Now note the almost humble reply of Elijah. He said, “I’ve been very jealous of the LORD God of hosts (which was true)”, and I think with a hint of sadness, “the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant (they surely had), torn down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword.” Obadiah had provided, sacrificially, with feeding 2 groups of 50 prophets of the LORD with bread and water during the three years of famine (see 1 Kings 18:3-4), but it’s not known for certain how many other true prophets had been executed (murdered) during Jezebel’s reign.
He closed his reply by saying, in so many words, “I’m the only prophet of Yours remaining and they’re trying to kill me”—and that was true, too. He may not have known about the true prophets who were in hiding; after all, Obadiah had to be careful who knew about this. Elijah seems to have told the LORD all that was in his heart, but maybe wasn’t too sure about what could or would happen next.
What did happen next was a demonstration, first, of God’s power! He told Elijah, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD”. The LORD passed by! And when He passed by, a great and strong wind did some serious damage to the mountains and the rocks located there. After the wind there was an earthquake (seldom mentioned in the Bible)—but the LORD was not in either of those mighty events. Then there was a fire but the LORD wasn’t in that either. Maybe this was a reminder that even though the LORD had answered by fire on Mount Carmel, He Himself was not made of fire. I have read that some religions did worship fire itself (example, somewhere in “The Two Babylons” by Alexander Hislop) but that was absolutely not the case here.
It was after all these mighty demonstrations: the wind, the earthquake, and the fire when Elijah heard something he maybe never thought would happen. He heard a still, small, voice (one other translation has “a gentle whisper as at https://biblehub.com/1_kings/19-12.htm)” The voice, and I think this was the LORD Himself speaking, asked Elijah once again, “Why are you here?” and Elijah replied with the same words he had used before the display of the LORD’s power. He then covered his face and returned to the opening of the cave.
If nothing else, Elijah had learned that God was everywhere. He wasn’t confined to any one location or any one group of people. The same God Who had answered Elijah by fire at Mount Carmel answered him by a still, small voice in a cave at Mount Horeb. He had also learned that God was not angry with Elijah even though He must have been disappointed at Elijah’s lack of faith. God could have protected him just as well at Carmel or Jezreel as He did at Mt Horeb.
Even so, the LORD wanted to remind, perhaps teach, Elijah a few things. Then when he had learned them, it would be time for Elijah to return back to where he was needed.
3 A Time to Return
Text: 1 Kings 19:15-21, KJV: 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. 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. 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.
Several interpretations exist as to just why Elijah replied to the LORD the way he did. Some feel he was complaining; others, he was overwhelmed; still more that he was just feeling sorry for himself. Maybe the answer, humanly speaking, was somewhere among all of these. I for one feel he told the LORD all that was on his heart. Besides, would it do any good to lie to the LORD?
The LORD told Elijah that it was time for him to leave the cave and get back to where he was needed. I am reminded of a quote by J. Oswald Sanders in one of his books, the gist of it being “serve the Lord where you are, because you cannot serve Him where you are not”. But notice how graciously the LORD gives Elijah a number of lessons first. First, the LORD taught him to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; then, Jehu son of Nimshi king of the Ten Northern Tribes; and Elisha son of Shaphat to be his own successor. To me, this speaks of the LORD teaching Elijah HE alone is in control and he “putteth down one, and setteth up another (Psalm 75:7, KJV). Dynasties (families) rise and fall, but the LORD is the one Who ultimately judges.
Second, Elijah learned that many would face severe punishment. The rest of 1 and 2 Kings prove this clearly. Third, Elijah learned that there were 7000 people in Israel who had not gone over to Baal-worship. We can see how this is sort of a mirror or reflection of some of Elijah’s own ministry. He had never anointed anyone, but he did confirm Ahab of the North; there is no record he ever met any of Judah’s kings. He did supervise the execution of the 450 false prophets, and these new leaders would continue. And he felt he was the only one remaining true to the LORD, but he may have forgotten the ones reclaimed on Carmel, plus others, to amount to the 7000.
Eventually Elijah left the cave, Mount Horeb, and Judah, making his way first to find Elisha. The story ends, here, with Elisha making a decision to follow Elijah.
My sincere hope is that we learn the right time to stay, or flee; that we’ll always be willing and able to learn what our Lord wants to teach us; and that if we flee to somewhere else, we’ll be willing to go back to where Our Lord wants us and needs us to be. Elisha did so—but will we?
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV)
