“And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.” (v1-3)
Ahab seemed to get to Jezebel first and told her what Elijah had done, and Jezebel sent a message to Elijah with a threat to kill him within twenty-four hours. One might have thought she could have been convinced that Baal was a fraud, but no. She was furious and wreaked revenge on Elijah and his God.
When Elijah learned this, he fled for his life and went to Beersheba, some eighty miles away to the south in Judah. Maybe he thought that he had won and all would be well, but it didn’t turn out that way and he was depressed. He had been on a mountain top experience, but it seemed to have all fallen apart, and he ran away.
He left his servant at Beersheba and went alone a further day’s journey into the wilderness (v4). He sat down under a broom tree. It is hard to believe that this man had prayed that rain would stop, and then that it would rain, and spoken before the king. It appeared that he had been strong, but now, he ran away. Not only that, but he now prayed that he might die. What a come down! A man of prayer indeed. God answers prayer mainly in three ways – Yes, No or wait. Whatever it is, His answer is always for our good. He had reached the end, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” Graciously, God answered ‘No’ to Elijah’s prayer.
It seemed that Elijah felt that his work was over and that he had failed in his service. One might have expected that the events on Carmel would have led to a revival, but it hadn’t, and he was disappointed. However, his work was not yet over, God had future plans for him.
He needed rest and the LORD gave him rest under a broom tree and he slept. We all need times of rest. Even back at creation, God rested on the seventh day after creation. It is something we all need at times. Not only did the LORD give him rest, but also, He provided food for him ready cooked. An angel woke him and there was a cake baked on coals and a jar of water. (v5-8)
Amazing that it was already prepared, all he had to do was take it.
Reminds me of Psalm 23, “You prepare a table before in the presence of my enemies”. God provides all our needs.
Elijah ate and drank, a fell asleep again. The angel came a second time and told him to eat and drink. There was obviously enough to eat and drink again. The angel told him he had a long journey ahead, so that he needed to eat and drink. He did so, and he went in the strength of it for forty days and nights, and travelled to Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of God. We might have expected God to chastise him for seeming to give up, but the LORD was gracious and recognised he needed food and rest.
God is not just aware of our spiritual needs, but also, He is not unaware of our physical needs. God gave him time to recover before embarking on a journey of around two hundred miles, some journey! You may recall that the Israelites had done this journey before on their way from Egypt when they were wandering in the wilderness. I understand that a direct route from Beersheba to Sinai would not have taken forty days, therefore, it may have been a learning experience for him from the past, spending forty days and nights in the desert.
When he arrived, he went into a cave and spent a night there, where the word of the LORD came to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Several commentators suggest that this cave was the very cleft of the rock where God appeared to Moses (Exodus 33), a place reminding him of the presence of God. God’s question was another of those where God knew exactly what Elijah was doing there, but He wanted Elijah to tell Him what was really on his heart. We came across those, to Adam and to Cain in Genesis. Elijah answered, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” (v9,10)
In other words, he protested that he had served the LORD faithfully, but now he was in danger, and it didn’t seem fair. He felt isolated, but again, he was not correct (see previous chapter, 18:22). He was naturally, afraid, but God was still with him. God told Elijah to go outside and stand on the mountain and the LORD would pass by. What excitement, was he going to see God? God knew that Elijah needed something special and what could be more special than the presence of God. We are often guilty of looking for God in the miraculous and dramatic, but what follows show that we can be looking in the wrong place.
The LORD passed with a great and strong wind which tore into the mountain. It even broke the rocks in pieces, but the LORD was not in that. Following that there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. Next was a fire, surely the LORD would be in the fire, for, after all He had sent fire to consume that sacrifice on Carmel. The LORD was not in the fire. Then there was a still small voice or a gentle whisper (v11,12). Sometimes we can be guilty of drowning out the voice of God.
Maybe Elijah was expecting a revival of God’s people after the display on Carmel, but whatever took place hadn’t had a lasting effect and he was discouraged. One has said that displays of God’s power doesn’t necessarily change hearts, but the still small voice of God is often more powerful than outward displays of His power and anger against sin leading to His judgment. He seemed to be thinking that he had been a failure, but v18 reveals that there were still a huge number who had not bowed down Baal.
On hearing the still small voice of the LORD (v13-15). Elijah went out to the entrance of the cave and wrapped his cloak around his face. Perhaps he was afraid he might look into the face of God. He showed his humility. God asked Elijah the same question, “What are you doing here Elijah.” (see v9). Remember, God had not told him to go there, unlike earlier, when He told him to go to the brook and then to the widow woman at Zarephath. Notice that God had not forsaken him even though he was running in fear for his life. He had sent an angel to provide for him. Elijah gave the same answer (see v10.) He was in difficult circumstances, but God still had work for him to do. Elijah obeyed and returned the way he had come, but now he seemed to have lost his fear of Jezebel. Obedience doesn’t mean we may not be in danger, but it helps us to overcome our fear, because we are going in the LORD’S name. He was to anoint Hazael as king over Syria (v16-18). Hazael was a high-ranking officer in the king’s court. (We learn that he became king many years later in the time after Elijah’s passing, in the time of Elisha (see 2 Kings 8)). Elijah was also to anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi as king over Israel, and Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah, as prophet in his place, a friend and successor. Elijah knew that he could train Elisha, and that his work would be continued after his passing.
Prior to this he was afraid of Ahab and Jezebel, now he was to go and anoint Ahab’s successor. Similar to Samuel anointing David whilst Saul was still alive. I guess Ahab and particularly Jezebel would not be very pleased once they knew of this.
God told Elijah that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu would kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. I’m not sure what this indicates except that, according to one commentator, God would see that justice is done.
Then God gives him encouragement and assurance that he is not alone, that seven thousand had not bowed the knee to Baal, nor kissed him. It showed that Elijah’s ministry had not been unsuccessful.
Elijah started out on his way and found Elisha, son of Shaphat, who was ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen, we are specifically told he was with the twelfth (v19-21). I’m no farmer and no expert on historical farming using oxen to plough. Others may tell me that Elisha was right at the front on the leading pair. Elijah came and as he passed by, he threw his mantle on him. His mantle was the symbol of his authority as a prophet, and this was a way of commissioning Elisha. He evidently continued on his way, and Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and asked if he could say goodbye to his father and mother and then follow him. Elijah’s reply could have been a rebuff, maybe he expected Elisha to follow immediately, but he knew it was God calling Elisha, so, he seemed to allow him to do this and wait God’s time.
His time was not wasted, he went back and took a pair of oxen, killed them and boiled their flesh and gave it the people, probably his family and friends, to eat. He was willing to leave them, and he went and followed Elijah and became his servant and showed his commitment.
