Ever Feeling Like Giving Up? 1 Kings 19:4-5, 9, 15-16
Elijah did. He had warned Ahab 3 years earlier. God brought a famine and protected and provided for Elijah. Ahab was looking everywhere to find and kill Elijah because he called out Ahab’s sin in allowing Jezabell to corrupt the people in the worship of Baal.
Elijah confronts Ahab. God brings a miraculous victory, and God brings rain to relieve the famine.
Jezabel calls for Elijah’s death, and Elijah runs. After all that God had done, somehow, Ahab was still listening to Jezabel.
Elijah ran for his life.
1 Kings 19:4-5 (NIV84) “He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.”
I guess he thought after all that Ahab might repent, Jezabel might repent? But nope, they were still out to kill him.
So, I give up, says Elijah.
We know the story, so we can even judge Elijah and say, ‘Man, what are you thinking.’
But the change he thought would come about had not happened even after great sacrifice and great miracles of God. Fire from heaven, rain, etc…
Elijah didn’t understand that God was not done with dealing with the sins of Jezebel and Ahab, who allowed them.
So, God deals patiently and kindly with Elijah. He brings food and water and strengthens him.
I love this question God has for Elijah.
1 Kings 19:9 (NIV84) “And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?””
Elijah ran to where He thought he could best meet God, the mountain of God in the desert.
Yet, I see God saying, “I am here. I am with you. I have never left you. You don’t have to run to find me.
And so we see that God reveals Himself in a still small voice.
He shows Elijah what is next.
1 Kings 19:15-16 (NIV84) “The Lord 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. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.”
There is so much in this text we could focus on, but this morning, I am thinking about one of the greatest prophets of God, feeling like giving up and running to find God. And God showed him He was with him every step of the way. From the ravens to the widow. From the fire of heaven to the rain. From the courage to confront Ahab to running ahead of his chariot. From the curse of Jezebel to the angel waking him to food. From his running to the desert to the still small voice.
God is and has been with us and will be with us. In fact, like Elijah, He still had work for him to do.
God help us not to run or falsely believe You left us. Or think we need to go somewhere to find You. Lord, you are with us all the way. May we stop and turn to You and listen and receive from You. May we not doubt your call on our lives, and may we trust you with the present and obey what You have next for us.
