God so Loved the World that He Gave His Son: The greatest Spiritual battle ever fought part two!
In the previous post we read about Elijah’s encounter with the prophets of Baal. Elijah experienced a stunning victory when Almighty God interceded for him against seemingly insurmountable odds! If by chance you were not able to read last week’s post, I encourage you to do so now. It’s definitely worth the time and effort. Now… for the next part of the story:
1 Kings 19:1-18 (NIV)
1 Now, Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. 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. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 15 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. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel–all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”
- Can somebody explain to me, in the blog comments, why Elijah was so afraid after experiencing such a marvelous victory? Remember, it was a spiritual battle and victory as well as a physical one.
- Somebody please explain to me, once again in the comments, what God was conveying to Elijah by speaking to him in a whisper?
- Why was God replacing Elijah with Elisha as prophet? Add your thoughts on this question in the comment section.
This situation with Elijah is very interesting and can certainly be very confusing at the same time.
Elijah, the prophets of Baal, Ahab, Jezebel, an Angel, Hazael, Jehu, Elisha and God Himself are all
involved in this complicated story. When I refer to this as a story, if we are not careful, it can
begin to seem like a fictional fairytale or a legend. However, it is not a fictional story; it is a true
account of the very real individual, Elijah, who actually lived this amazing chronicle!
If you are familiar with the account of Elijah, I’m sure you realize that there are more amazing
happenings to come in the next post. Please leave your thoughts and answers to the questions above in the comment area of this blog. I look forward to the dialog we can have regarding this amazing man of God, Elijah!