(1) A fierce enemy-Jezebel
When the people saw the fire camping from the sky and consumed the offering, they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, "The LORD is the true God! the LORD is the true God! 18:39.
When Elijah told Ahab that to go up, eat and drink because the rain was coming, Ahab went up to eat and drink. 18:41-42. Ahab listened to Elijah again when he told him to went down before the rain came. v.44-45.
However, when the news came to Jezebel about what had happened, instead of repenting her sins, she wanted to kill Elijah 19:1-2.
(NAC) At this point in the story, though, he meets the one person as committed to Baal as he is to Yahweh...
This woman has the fierceness Ahab lacks, the civil authority the prophets of Baal lacked, and a freshness for battle that Elijah no longer possesses. She is as worthy an opponent as God’s servants ever face in Scripture. Who, or what, can defeat her? For whatever reason—fatigue, lack of faith, or a sense of resignation at the prospect of never having peace—Elijah flees.
This woman has the fierceness Ahab lacks, the civil authority the prophets of Baal lacked, and a freshness for battle that Elijah no longer possesses. She is as worthy an opponent as God’s servants ever face in Scripture. Who, or what, can defeat her? For whatever reason—fatigue, lack of faith, or a sense of resignation at the prospect of never having peace—Elijah flees.
3 Elijah was afraid, so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah. He left his servant there, 4 while he went a day’s journey into the wilderness
(NAC) Indeed, the fact that he dismisses his servant in Beersheba, the southernmost point in Judah, then goes a day’s journey farther may indicate he has given up his ministry altogether
Reflection: Have you ever felt the way Elijah has? You have just done a big "project" for the church or you have just helped a person to change, but then a major setback happened. The person you have counselled went back to sin or someone criticized your "big project." There seems like a huge enemy you can never win. You might want to just throw the towel and say, "That's it. I have enough."
Reflection: Do you believe that God's words are powerful even in a whisper? Are you hopeless because people refuse to change even with some amazing "miracles?" How do you evaluate miracle vs God's words?
Reflection: Have you ever felt the way Elijah has? You have just done a big "project" for the church or you have just helped a person to change, but then a major setback happened. The person you have counselled went back to sin or someone criticized your "big project." There seems like a huge enemy you can never win. You might want to just throw the towel and say, "That's it. I have enough."
(2) God revealed Himself not only in the fire of Carmel, but also in a gentle whisper
v.11b A very powerful wind went before the LORD, digging into the mountain and causing landslides, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave
Elijah might have thought, "if the fire of Carmel was not enough, what else can change Israel. Israel was hopeless." However, God did not have to show His power in a powerful miracle. His words are powerful, even in whispers.
(BKC) what he himself had seen on Mount Carmel only a few days earlier (1 Kings 18:38, 45), namely, a spectacular demonstration of the power of God, this time in wind, an earthquake, and fire. But on this occasion the LORD was not in any of these, that is, they were not His instruments of self-revelation.
Evidently some time later when Elijah was back in his cave (19:13) he heard the sound of a gentle whisper. Recognizing this as a revelation of God he pulled his cloak over part of his face, walked out to the mouth of the cave, and stood there waiting for God to act. God asked the same question He asked earlier (cf. v. 9): What are you doing here, Elijah?After Elijah had answered God exactly the same way before, God spoke His mighty words to Him. In a sense, He is still a sovereign God who controlled both the king of Israel, and the king of the non-Israel country.
15 The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came and then head for the wilderness of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria. 16 You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet. 17 Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael’s sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu’s sword. 18 I still have left in Israel 7,000 followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.”
(NAC) The Lord’s word to him reaffirms God’s uniqueness, his sovereignty over all nations, and the importance of the prophetic word...reminds Elijah that God’s word cannot be silenced. It remains the force that produces the remnant, protects the remnant, and empowers the remnant. As a part of this remnant, Elijah can expect God’s protection and empowerment.
If God is powerful enough to control who will be the king outside of Israel, what else in your life should we trust and rely on Him?
If Elijah was encouraged by the fact that there were 7000 fellow God-followers, how shall we treasure the fellowship of the brothers and sisters in the church?
Audrey
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