1 Kings - Lesson 19

• In our last session, we witnessed the showdown of a lifetime, Elijah the prophet goes head to head with the priests of Baal and their pagan worship.

  • Elijah has been equipped and prepared to confront King Ahab as he and his wife continue to pollute the Northern kingdom with idolatrous worship.

    • And Elijah comes to remind the people of the North of who the true and Living God is – none other than Yahweh.

  • And as a way to demonstrate the power of God amongst a backslidden and forgetful people, Elijah request a duel.

    • He has the Northern Kingdoms’ over 450 priests, to choose a location, the object of sacrifice, and to prepare their altar.

    • This would all seem like a huge disadvantage for Elijah, yet he has the confidence in knowing that the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob is with him.

  • Elijah places a caveat on this showdown – whichever god responds to the sacrifice, will be the god in whom is to be worshipped by the people.

    • The terms are agreed upon and the competition begins with the 450 priests.

  • After hours of the pagan priests seeking to appease and gain the attention of their gods, they receive no answer and no consumed sacrifice.

    • The stage is now set for the Lord to work mightily, and he does so with a few extra kicks for show.

  • And without fail, the Lord consumes the sacrifice and the prophets of the north are forced to concede.

    • And to put the icing on the cake, Elijah, according to Torah, has every one of Jezebel’s prophets killed for turning the people away from Yahweh.

  • It was upon hearing that news that now Elijah is faced with another challenge before him.

    • Because Jezebel’s system of religion has been shown a farce and her strength weakened.

    • Now, she is coming for Elijah. The question becomes, what will he do?!

  • If I were to put an outline together for our time in the text, we will see a few things:

    • 1. Jezebel’s threat and Elijah’s escape (vv.1-8)

    • 2. Elijah’s Fear/ The Lord’s Word (vv.9-16)

    • 3. You are not Alone (vv.17-21)

  • If I were to put a tag on our text tonight, it would simply be: Faith over Fear.

    • With that being said, meet me in 1 Kings 19, beginning with verses 1-8 for the reading of the word of the Lord.

1 Kings 19:1 Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
1 Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”
1 Kings 19:3 And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
1 Kings 19:4 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 my life, for I am not better than my fathers.”
1 Kings 19:5 He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat.”
1 Kings 19:6 Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.
1 Kings 19:7 The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.”
1 Kings 19:8 So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.

• After the great showdown between the prophets of Baal versus Yahweh, word is sent back to Jezebel, by her husband as to what occurred.

  • She’s informed that all the prophets of Baal were killed by Elijah after having been defeated in the showdown.

    • One thing to note here is the detail concerning Ahab’s rendition of the showdown.

    • He mentions not that Yahweh had demonstrated great power over Baal, but rather that the showdown was done by Elijah.

  • Now although a small detail, what seems to be overlooked by Ahab is the one behind Elijah doing the work – it is none other than Yahweh Himself.

    • This simply goes to show that Ahab is still blinded by the reality of the God behind this great demonstration of power.

    • As one could imagine, Jezebel receiving word of her prophets having died at the hands of Elijah infuriated her.

    • And as a result, she says in few short words that her response to this would be to seek the life of Elijah the next day.

  • So getting word of his life being threatened, Elijah flees to Beersheba, in Judah, and left his servant there.

    • However, it would seem that the distance wasn’t far enough for Elijah because from Beersheba he heads further east into the wilderness.

    • Here he is back at a place of familiarity, isolated from the population in order to seek refuge from the source of impending infliction.

    • And the text tells us that he finds rest under a juniper tree and it is under that tree where Elijah cries out to the Lord to take his life.

  • Isn’t it interesting that the same place that Elijah found himself before, where the Lord supernaturally sustained him, is the same place he seeks to die.

    • Perhaps the writer is using the wilderness as a reminder to the reader that the wilderness can be a place where the Lord can still meet you.

    • We oftentimes consider the wilderness as a place of dismissal, seclusion, but perhaps, the wilderness is a place that, when the Lord is invited can become an oasis.

  • What we see with Elijah is that he becomes discouraged by the upcoming circumstance that he was to face.

    • He was overwhelmed at what was before him having forgot that not too long ago how the Lord had demonstrated His power mightily through Him.

• The reality is, we too have moments like Elijah in the fact that, one moment we are on the mountain top with Jesus, yet when we are in the valley we easily become discouraged.

  • What we must remember as believers in Christ is that God is not just the God of the great showdown, but he is also the God of the valley and the down trodden.

    • Isaiah 40:29 tells us this:

Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.

• So while in the wilderness, Elijah seeks refuge under a juniper tree.

  • A Juniper tree, also known as a broom tree, was a small shrub which has roots that can be eaten or used for charcoal to cook.

  • Along with those specific properties, it was most known for its shading ability in hot areas.

  • And while under this juniper tree, looking to die, an angel touched him saying “Arise, eat.”

    • At first glance of that verse one would assume, where will the food come from – he’s in the desert, right?

    • However, the very next verse tells us that as Elijah got up that he is greeted with a bread cake, “baked on hot stones” and a jar of water.

    • Miraculously, food is provided for Elijah as well as water, perhaps from the brook nearby.

  • Perhaps, the stones that were used here might refer to the roots of the juniper tree as means to cook the bread cake.

    • We are told in verses 7-8 that “the angel of the Lord” came a second time to strengthen Elijah with a meal for the journey ahead.

    • Notice, that the text says “the angel of the Lord”. Perhaps this is the pre-incarnate Christ coming to aid the needs of Elijah for His journey.

    • What a refreshing thought to know that Christ is with us even in the depths of the valley!

    • I’m reminded of David’s words in Psalm 139:8-12 where he says:

Psalm 139:8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
Psalm 139:9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Psalm 139:10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
Psalm 139:11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,”
Psalm 139:12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.

• What becomes an interesting detail in the text is the journey in which Elijah will take from the wilderness to Horeb.

  • Horeb is  also known as Mt. Sinai where the Law was given to Moses some time prior.

  • And what is even more astonishing is the time in which this journey would take for Elijah – 40 days and 40 nights.

  • The writer gives us this beautiful imagery of 2 significant biblical characters on the same mountain: Moses and Elijah.

    • Moses and the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.

    • Elijah will travel for 40 days and 40 nights, and guess who else was in a wilderness strengthened by angels for the same amount of time – Jesus Christ.

  • If those details aren’t coincidental enough, when we move to the New Testament where the Lord Jesus shows His Glory to Peter, James, and John – who is there with Him?

    • None other than Moses on one side and Elijah on the other!

  • This is why I believe the angel of the Lord in this text is the pre-incarnate Christ, because not only does God reveal Himself to Moses but He does the same for Elijah.

    • And in that moment on the mount of transfiguration both Moses and Elijah are able to witness the very God-man in whom gave them a glimpse of His Glory!

    • And in both these instances, Moses and Elijah were in a wilderness.

    • Horeb in Hebrew means desert or dried up!

  • Clearly, the writer in Hebrew is casting foreshadows of the God-man in whom he himself has not seen with his own eyes.

    • Yet he is able to describe to the reader the sustaining provision, power, and Glory beheld in the God-man, Jesus Christ!

    • So not only does Elijah leave the wilderness full physically, but his courage will be replenished all the more.

    • Check out verses 9-16.

1 Kings 19:9 Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings 19:10 He said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
1 Kings 19:11 So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking 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.
1 Kings 19:12 After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.
1 Kings 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings 19:14 Then he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
1 Kings 19:15 The Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram;
1 Kings 19:16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

• Elijah leaves the wilderness and retreats to Mt.Sinai where he can find refuge in a cave.

  • This particular cave was not just any cave but perhaps this was the cave in which the Lord revealed Himself to Moses in the giving of the Law.

    • Elijah went back to a familiar place as to hopefully hear from the Lord and seek protection from Jezebel.

    • And to Elijah’s desire, he hears from the Lord and the Lord does not greet him with answers, but rather a question.

    • And that question was, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

  • Now wait a minute! Why is it that God is asking a question that He already knows the answer to, to a fearful and timid prophet?

    • Well, it’s similar to how the Lord Jesus would answer questions from people during His time on earth.

    • The method of answering questions with questions was in the context of Jewish teaching.

    • For this would be the way in which the individual with the question would come to the answer in which they were seeking.

  • It’s like when we used to take tests in grade school and you had a question about familiar content.

    • Yet your teacher couldn’t give you the answer.

    • So, what she does is asks you questions which would cause previously studied material to come to mind.

    • And when you processed the question asked, it would bring you to a conclusion that you already knew the answer, you just needed someone to stimulate the previously learned information.

  • And what a powerful way to stimulate one’s mind to bring forth previously learned information!

    • Like Elijah, we too can come to the crossroads of fear and forgetfulness.

    • The fear of what life throws our way, the fear of circumstances arising that are out of our control.

  • It’s in those moments that the Holy Spirit has to remind us of something: Do you remember when the Lord delivered you before?

    • Do you remember when the Lord showed up mightily in your past situations.

  • Friends, it wasn’t too long ago that the Lord had used Elijah mightily by way of an all-consuming fire at the Altar showdown.

    • And somewhere between that high moment and this low moment, fear had completely crippled Elijah.

  • It’s in verse 10 that Elijah responds to the Lord’s question that he had been zealous for the Lord, that he had done mighty things for Him.

    • And now he feels that he has been forsaken himself because of the plot on his life. Elijah feels as though he was the only one left.

  • The reality is, we can identify with Elijah, because we too at some point have felt the same way:

    • Lord, I’ve served you, I’ve been faithful to your word, I’ve done ministry in your name, but where are you for me in my time of need?!

  • And how kind is it that the Lord, in Elijah’s forgetful fear-tantrum, reminds him that He is with Him.

    • So the Lord tells Elijah to go and stand on the mountain before the LORD.

    • Remember, this is the very mountain in which Moses has stood and what the Lord does next blows my mind!

  • While standing there, four events happen. The first time a large wind blows breaking the rocks in pieces, and an earthquake occurs, and a fire, and finally a gentle blowing.

    • Within the first three events, the text lets us know that the Lord was neither in the large wind, the earthquake, or the fire.

    • However, it would be in that soft and gentle blow that Elijah would hear and respond to the voice of the Lord once again.

  • Perhaps, Elijah was anticipating the Lord to speak through and demonstrate his revelation and power as He had done before – through earthquake and fire.

    • Perhaps, Elijah was seeking that at the very sign of threat from Jezebel that the Lord would completely consume her in an instant.

    • And that because of the Lord’s lack of response in that matter, somehow Elijah assumed that the Lord was not with him.

  • Could it be that the Lord needed to reorient Elijah’s expectations regarding how He worked?

    • Perhaps, Elijah needed to be still and know that the Lord was God and in control, even when it didn’t seem like things were in control.

  • The most still moments of a hurricane are in the “eye of the storm”. It is recorded that there is a sense of stillness even when chaos is around.

    • It’s this still gentle wind that Elijah hears that he both recognizes and hears the voice of the Lord!

    • He proceeds to walk to the opening of the cave and it is there that the Lord asks him the same question again – “Why are you here, Elijah?”

    • To which Elijah proceeds to give the same response he did the first time – only this time the Lord responds not with demonstrations of revelation but now with an answer.

  • Sometimes the Lord will provide us answers in ways that we would least expect!

    • The Lord has a way of doing things in unconventional ways.

  • From that point, Elijah responds with the same answer. He emphasizes his sense of being alone or the only prophet left. There is almost a sense of self-pity.

    • Elijah had, not too long ago, witnessed a powerful demonstration of God’s power on the mountain at the great showdown.

    • And now he seems to be crippled by fear as if the God of Israel won’t come through for him now.

  • Furthermore, we witness that this sense of self-pity almost leads to this sense of “Woe is me.”

    • Yet we find that the Lord deals gently with Elijah and lets him know that one, the Lord is with him.

    • And two, that there is a remnant in the land in whom the Lord can use to accomplish his work.

  • And this brings up an interesting point: May we not get so beside ourselves in thinking that without us the Lord can’t accomplish His work!

    • The Lord can use whomever He needs in order to accomplish His purposes.

    • If the Lord can use a donkey for His purposes what makes you think He needs, you or me?!

    • It is an honor and privilege to serve the Lord and we should walk in humility knowing this reality.

  • So, the Lord says in verse 15 that Elijah is to return to Israel and go to Damascus where he is to complete three assignments. He is to:

    • 1) Anoint Hazael king over Aram,

    • 2) Anoint Jehu king over Israel, and

    • 3) Appoint Elisha as prophet in his place.

  • Interestingly enough, we will discover upon finishing 1 Kings, that Elijah only accomplishes one of these assignments directly and the other 2 indirectly.

    • Elijah will indeed appoint Elisha as his successor, however, it will be Elisha that will accomplish the tasks of anointing both Hazael and Jehu.

    • And the latter events will occur in 2 Kings Chapters 8 and 9. Check out verses 17-21.

1 Kings 19:17 “It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.
1 Kings 19:18 “Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
1 Kings 19:19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him.
1 Kings 19:20 He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”
1 Kings 19:21 So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.

• God responds to Elijah’s questions of feeling left alone and abandoned by reassuring him that there is a plan.

  • This plan would consist of a direct assault and destroying of Baalism out of Israel through the Lord’s instruments of choice.

    • And as we see, through the use of these three men, the Lord would eradicate Baalism and its grip upon Israel.

  • And as a way of application, this is good news for us because even when we don’t know the complete ways in which the Lord is working things out, we can trust that He is making a way!

    • And as a note of encouragement as we read in James 5 some sessions ago, we can often look at these biblical characters and think they are “the standard”

    • Or that we could never amount to the things that they have accomplished.

  • But as James 5 mentions, Elijah, although used mightily by God, was still just a man and struggled with fear and was at times discouraged.

    • One could argue that Elijah, like David, dealt with depression at times!

    • So before we start elevating people into positions, know that as believers we are all on a journey with the Lord.

  • We shouldn’t be so quick to assume that because someone may be a pastor or an elder, or bible teacher, that they don’t struggle with fear, discouragement, or even wrestle with God on matters!

    • We must be willing to humble ourselves and know that we are all in need of trusting that the Lord is enough.

    • And even when it doesn’t make sense, that as we seek the Lord for understanding, He will provide all that we need.

  • The Lord in His kindness also addresses Elijah’s sense of being alone. Notice in verse 18 he lets him know that there is a remnant that will remain.

    • In other words, “Elijah, you aren’t by yourself. There are some who haven’t bowed the knee to Baal!”

  • The reality is as our culture gets darker and darker, be of good cheer and know that there are still those who truly stand on the word of God.

    • Don’t expect that everyone is yearning to be in a solid bible teaching church or to be in bible study week after week.

    • However, that does not mean that those who aren’t here or listening to the ministry app, aren’t faithful followers of Jesus.

  • I believe that what the Lord was also addressing with Elijah was the idea that he was somehow the “forgotten one of privilege”.

    • And the reality is, that is us sometimes:

    • Lord I have done such and such for you or I have taught the bible study, why are these things occurring in my life – as if we aren’t meant to suffer!

  • I’m reminded of the words of Jesus to His disciples in John 15:20-21. Check out the text:

John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
John 15:21 “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.

• So, Elijah beginning to understand what the Lord was showing him by way of gentleness, gets up and proceeds to do as the Lord sent him.

  • He goes to a small town named Abel Meholah, halfway between the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee.

  • And it’s there that he meets his successor – Elisha.

  • The name Elisha in Hebrew means, “My God is Salvation”.

  • While Elisha was out plowing his father’s field with 12 pair of oxen (a lot of land), Elijah comes by and throws his mantle on him.

    • In that day, a prophet throwing their cloak on another meant that there was a passing of the baton.

    • In other words, the power and authority of that prophetic office was being handed down to the one receiving the cloak.

    • Elisha understood what this meant because the text tells us that almost immediately, Elisha stopped what he was doing to go after Elijah.

  • However, in taking up this mantle bestowed upon him, Elisha asks Elijah if he can say good-bye to his father and family.

    • To which Elijah responds, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

    • In other words, I’m not taking you against your will, do as you need to!

  • We are then told that Elisha’s decision on following Elijah and taking up this mantle is approved because of the slaughtering of the oxen.

    • One could imagine that these oxen, which belonged to the father was a heavy sacrifice, yet there is understanding with what Elisha needed to do.

    • This sacrifice of the oxen symbolized his commitment to the Lord and none other!

• I remember months before my mother died, I was going to tell her the Lord opened an opportunity for me to go into full time ministry at Verse by Verse Fellowship.

  • And I remember being nervous because in high school I remember sharing the same thought of full time ministry with my mom yet her response was different then.

    • In high school she told me with the most sincere face, Wesley, that’s great but you need to get you a “real job first”.

    • So years later, I was expecting the same response, hesitatingly, yet this time I was met with a different response.

    • On the phone with my mom, she proceeds to tell me, “Wesley, I knew it was time. I’m so proud of you following the Lord!”

  • So here we see that the family participates in this feast of farewell celebration for the journey that Elisha is about to embark upon.

    • To which he departs from the feast and proceeds to follow Elijah on this journey of ministry that will unfold before his very eyes.

• Our following the Lord Jesus is something that is to be both carefully considered and courageously pursued.

  • When we placed our faith in Christ, we were illumined to abandon the things and our ways of the past and to pursue the Lord above all else.

    • In the same way, Elisha takes on this mantle as to commit himself to the works and assignments of the Lord for Israel as a whole.

    • And these works will be seen later in 2 Kings.

    • Let’s Pray.