"Disappointed With God"
Rev Dr Robert G Leroe
We see quite a contrast between chapters 18 & 19! Elijah moves from exhilaration and intense excitement to dejection, discouragement and depression after his miraculous contest against the prophets of Baal. From his mountain top experience he descends to a deep valley. His disappointment stems from Jezebel’s threat on his life, but also from the poor response of God’s people. Following God’s mighty display of power the people should have returned to faith and allegiance to the Lord. There should have been a national revival. There should have been a popular uprising against the godless king and idolatrous queen. Ahab should have been converted. The divided kingdom should have been united. But fear of reprisal from Ahab & Jezebel kept the people from renouncing Baal. In fact, rather than recognize the hand of God at Mt. Carmel, Ahab sees only a disagreeable prophet, and attributes Baal’s defeat to Elijah, who is once again a fugitive. As Elijah flees, he does so, wondering what it will take to get Israel’s attention, and when his opposition will cease.
We’re tempted to yearn for a return of Biblical miracles. If only God would perform some wonder, the skeptics would be silenced and the world would come to Christ...yet although the fire atop Mount Carmel startled the multitudes, it did not transform their lives. This is true even of some of Christ’s miracles. The crowds were drawn to Him but did not repent. What, then, does God use to touch the heart? Verse 12, a quiet, gentle voice. God does not always use the means which we suppose He might use. God will use whatever means He pleases, and all means are useless apart from Him.
Joshua’s choice (24:15) was theirs--serve God or serve another. Moses’ successor cried out to Israel, “Choose this day whom will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua received a better response than Elijah. The people affirmed their commitment to Jehovah. One couldn’t hope for a clearer demonstration of divine power than the fire upon Mount Carmel; yet the people remained non-committal. What appeared to be a clear victory appeared to Elijah as a bitter defeat. The fire descended, but the hearts of the people were apparently unchanged.
(This is why pastors so often get discouraged. After pouring their hearts out in communicating God’s grace, their efforts aren’t always fruitful. It is tempting to grow weary in well-doing. We have to remind ourselves that God has called us to be faithful and consistent, not necessarily successful…or at least according to our personal definition of success. God calls Elijah--and us--to re-define success.)
Elijah flees to Beersheba, retreating from his defeated enemy. There he dismisses his servant, not wishing to jeopardize his life further. Just as the disheartened children of Israel spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness, dejected Elijah spends 40 days in the desert (vs. 8). Is this the fearless prophet who brought both fire and water from the skies? His flight may also be a punishment upon Israel--they didn’t deserve to have a prophet.
In verse 4, Elijah cries out, “I have had enough, Lord: take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” I suspect that Elijah was under the heavy burden of an unrealistic, unattainable goal--to rise above the human condition and attain some new spiritual level of power. He felt he had failed God; his ministry bore little fruit. He was unable to live up to his own expectations, and was angry with himself; maybe even with God. He is shattered, and ready to give up. Perhaps Elijah forgot that God does not hold His servants responsible for results.
Depression has been defined as “anger turned inward”. Elijah is dis-heartened at the lack of response to God’s miracle and his prophetic ministry. Rather than openly rebuke God, he asks to be taken home. “I’ve had it—I can’t take any more.” I think if we’re honest with ourselves, nearly all of us can admit to sharing Elijah’s despondency at times. Nearly everyone has said, “I wish I were dead.” This is only human. Charles Spurgeon asserted, “The best of men are but men at best.” It is understandable for us to feel defeated and depressed and stressed out.
When we consider Elijah (and many other heroes of the Bible), it is comforting to discover that we’re not the only ones who failed through human weakness: Moses complained to God, “I am not able to take care of all these people alone. If You are going to continue doing this to me, put me to death now” (Num. 11:4-5); Jonah prayed, “Lord, please take my life; it is better for me to die than to live (4:3); and David was moved to wish for “wings like a dove--for then I would fly away and be at rest” (Ps 55:6); both Job and Jeremiah regretted they’d been born. If these can be susceptible to anxiety, so can we. Moreover, we can take comfort from Elijah’s frailty, though we should hardly use it as an excuse for our failures. Here is a warning: We cannot be like Elijah upon Mount Carmel without the probability that we will be Elijah under a juniper bush before long.
Elijah was also physically spent. His flight from Jezebel’s clutches caused him to be weary…and when we grow weary, our physical and spiritual defenses are challenged. Elijah was worn out, tired, confused, and hungry. He was susceptible to melancholy, which became his thorn in the flesh.
In verse 5 God grants the prophet a needed rest under a juniper tree, also called a broom bush (a large desert shrub found in southern Israel, with long slender branches, which can reach a height of 10 feet). Troubles often rob us of rest. How many people do you know who would give anything for a good night’s sleep? A sign of depression is insomnia--sleeplessness over worries that won’t go away. Elijah’s distress kept him from resting in the Lord.
People suffering from depression often say they don’t feel like eating--yet nourishment plays a vital part in combating depression. You may not feel hungry, but not eating (or over-eating) can reinforce negative emotions. When Elijah awakes (vs. 5), he finds that God has provided him a waiter with wings and a much-needed meal.
The very reason that Elijah gave for wanting to die was the very best reason he could have given for wanting to live. If you are the only faithful one left serving God, you should want to continue on till there are more to carry on your work. He was so inwardly-focused that he failed to realize that there were others left who were on God’s side.
Those who contemplate suicide are making several mistakes:
· They think that they know what is best…and that there could be no good purpose for their pain;
· They think that suicide will resolve their pain. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem;
· They think that their death won’t hurt others;
· They think that God can’t or won’t change them or their circumstances.
-These are the lies we believe.
Suicide has been called a mistaken use of freedom, a desire to be sovereign over ourselves, a misguided act of self-will. Self-murder is a sin against one’s self. Our bodies are temples of God’s Spirit, and we are expected to take care of them. We belong to God. He decides when life ends, and we have no right to usurp His place and role. Suicide is a violation of the sanctity and sacredness of human life as well as the dignity and value of the individual. We may hit rock bottom, but we are never without hope. When overcome by events, we must recognize that God can help us endure hardship.
Elijah’s New Testament counterpart also suffered from discouragement. John the Baptist came, by Jesus’ affirmation, in the spirit and power of Elijah (Mt. 11:14). He too grew discouraged. Herod imprisoned him and like Elijah, John needed reassurance.
In verse 9 Elijah locates a cave at Mount Sinai and rested. The Hebrew text says “he came to the cave”, indicating a significant place, possibly the very “cleft of the rock” where God placed Moses as His glory passed by (Ex 33). God gently confronts Elijah with a question: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” The prophet was not where God wanted him, both geographically and spiritually. When God asks a question, it is His way of getting us to do some soul-searching. Take some time today and think about where God is trying to direct His people from the questions He asks--which I’ve printed in the bulletin. God’s question implies that Elijah is in the Sinai, not at God’s leading, but his own. In vss 11-12 we see that, though God is quite capable of earth-shaking wrath, He comes to Elijah with a gentle whisper. The God Who dealt in fiery judgment towards idolaters, speaks gently with His prophet, determined to revive and restore him. Elijah is learning the meaning of David’s song: “He restores my soul; He leads me in the path of righteousness for His Name’s sake.”
Elijah is given two opportunities to answer God, both requiring some self-examination (vss 9 & 13). In both instances, he does not give a direct answer (vss 10 & 14). If Elijah had not avoided the truth his response might have been, “Lord, I am taking counsel of my fears and allowing them to control me.” Rather than tell himself the truth, Elijah is self-deceived by a lie.
God’s encouragement comes in vss 16-18. First, God reassures Elijah that he will complete his mission and re-directs him to carry out three significant tasks: the anointing of Syria and Israel’s new rulers, and the anointing of his own successor, Elisha. Then the Lord reassures the prophet that he is far from alone--there are 7,000 in Israel “that have not bowed to Baal”. The Apostle Paul comments on this in Romans 11, concluding that “there is a remnant chosen by grace.” What Paul is saying is that even in the most godless of times, there are believers who remain committed to God. We struggle, but we are never alone in our struggles. God is better to us than ourselves, and gently heals our brokenness.
We may have the opportunity to encourage those who hurt. We’re commanded to “bear one another’s burdens”. We can be used by God to restore people who are cast down by painful experiences. We can listen compassionately, then tactfully help others to develop a plan to overcome their burdens. We can’t change circumstance always...but we can change. We can transform our perspective. We see life, not as it is, but as we are. We can choose to respond to life’s hard times with despair, or with trust, in spite of our situation.
Elijah’s response to God is twofold: he is subdued, and he submits. He was not terrified by the fire, the wind, nor the earthquake...but when Elijah heard the unexpected, gentle breath of God; when he encountered God’s soft and tender presence (vs. 13), the prophet responded as the angels do--He wrapped himself in his mantle (c.f. Isaiah 6:2), a sign of humility and reverence toward God. He responded as Moses, who hid his face before the burning bush (Ex 3). He put aside his troubled emotions and heeded God’s directive with prompt obedience.
In James 1 we’re told, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors” (The Message).
A woman was struggling with a disabling illness, and was asked if she wished to live or die. She replied, “I wish to have no wish about the matter, but to leave it in the hands of God.”
God could have easily and justifiably said to the weary prophet, “Elijah, you’re done for; you’ve outlived your usefulness; you’re outta here!” God understands when our energy is spent. God tears up Elijah’s resignation and tells the prophet that He isn’t finished with him yet—God has more work in store for His prophet. He did not change Elijah’s situation, but He helped Elijah to change. God also assures Elijah that he is not alone. God says “no” to Elijah’s despondent prayer. Elijah never sees death. Instead, when God is ready, Elijah is carried up to heaven on a chariot of fire and a whirlwind (II Kings 2).
James reminds us that “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours” (5:17). He wasn’t an extraordinary, super-saint. And the God of Elijah is our Lord. Just as He sustained Elijah, He can and will sustain us if we call upon Him. Perhaps God is asking us the same question He asked Elijah: “What are you doing here?” Let’s respond to the heavenly whisper and turn from frustration to faith.
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Bulletin Insert
When God asks a question, it’s usually His way of inviting or encouraging His people to do some serious reflection, to draw them out. For instance:
“Adam--where are you?” (Gen. 3:9)
“Cain--where is your brother Abel?” (Gen. 4:9)
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” (Job 38:4)
“Should I not be concerned about (Ninevah)?” (Jonah 4:11)
“Why are you here, Elijah?” (I Kings 19:9)
“I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25).
“Where is your husband?” (John 4:16)
“Who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20)
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” (John 6:67)
“Saul, why do you persecute Me?” (Acts 9:4)
