Do you remember those commercials where everything would be great with a couple or family and then disaster would strike, or triplets would arrive? I can’t recall the insurance company they were for but then the spokesperson would say, “Life comes at you fast.” Every time I read this story about Elijah, I am amazed at how quickly the events turned from the bold mockery of 450 false prophets and the flash like super speed, to a man ready to die because he’d had enough. Let’s look at 1 Kings 19 today to see what lessons we can learn to make sure that when life comes at us fast, we are able to withstand its trials!

1 Kings 19:  When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”

3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So, he ate and drank and lay down again.

7 Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”

8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.

So, we go from “Maybe your god is in the bathroom to let me die,” in a matter of hours. Why? I am not sure why this threat from Jezebel struck such a fearful blow to Elijah’s confidence, but one thing is certain, it was a real emotional breakdown Elijah was having. Often, I am hard on Elijah here, but that is easy for me because I have never had my life threatened. Well, there was one time, but my buddy Clay took care of that guy. I digress. Here is why I believe Elijah slid into what many will call depression.

1.  He thought the battle was over after the victory at Mt Carmel and the rain falling.

He wasn’t prepared for more opposition, and so when Jezebel spouted off, he wasn’t ready to give a spiritual rebuttal, all he was operating in at that moment was his own limitations, not the power of the Lord. We must always be ready, in season and out, as Paul says, to go to battle with the enemy.

2.  When he fled, he left his company and went away alone.

We are not meant to do this life alone, especially in seasons of trial and spiritual warfare. We need each other! The first thing the enemy tries to do is separate us from the body of Christ. Sometimes it’s as innocent as a few weekends at the ballpark or picking up the extra overtime, before you know it, it’s been months since you’ve been in a redemptive community, and it Is really showing in your spiritual and emotional state. Then the enemy will “say, oh they don’t want you back.” Lies. Don’t let the enemy keep you from a group of people who love you, support you, and lead you in the love of God.

The Lord Speaks to Elijah

But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

15 Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. 16 Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. 17 Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! 18 Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”

I love the simplicity of God’s question to Elijah, “what are you doing here?” Elijah answers with a seemingly legitimate pity party, and God responds in two ways. First, God shows both his majesty and his personal nature. The great acts of nature, the windstorm, the earthquake, and the fire, but even though He could be in those things, He was in that still small voice.

We often look for God only in the big things, but He is so close and personal to us, He is often found in the quiet and the small things in our lives. God then gave Elijah a mission and a helper, and God is going to reward those in Israel who never bowed the knee to Baal. That’s a good reminder for us to never bow the knee to anything in our lives other than the King of Kings.

The Call of Elisha

19 So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. 20 Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!”

Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.”

21 So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.

Wow! Talk about recklessly abandoning your life for the call of God. Elisha cut all ties to his former employment and followed Elijah who would be his teacher until the day Elisha takes his place. We could learn a thing or two from Elisha here. When we leave our old lives of sin for the new life that Jesus offers, don’t go back to it again and again. Give it to the Lord and follow!

I love this story and its real time application for our lives.

Be ready in season and out of season for the schemes of the devil.

Stay in fellowship with the body of believers who will love and support you through every season.

We aren’t meant to do this alone!

When God gives you a mission or calls you to service, make that your number one priority!

In our prayer time today, ask God to help you in these areas!