“I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn 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” 1 Kings 19:14

As a Christian in leadership position, we can often feel alone in what we do or numerically. Elijah felt alone because the people he was shepherding, the Israelites, have “rejected the covenant and torn down God’s altars“. Not only that, these same people who killed God’s prophets made him the only one remaining. Elijah received threats because of his spiritual call of being a prophet and was the next of the list to be killed.

Have you ever been in such a position where the people you’re leading have become numb, rejected God’s commands, indifferent, tolerating sin and even getting rid of the good models?

Elijah was distressed and went to pray in agony. He no longer wanted to live, it was too much for him. He compared his achievements to those of his predecessors and thought he was a failure. He thught that those who were before him did a better job and were able to lead Israel but under his leadership, the people went astray and rejected God’s covenant. Such was his agony that:

He prayed that he might die and said “I have had enough, Lord,” “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”  Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.“

God heard him, asked him to strengthen himself and provided food so he might encounter him on the mountain of God.

This is what God did with Moses. This is what Jesus did with His disciples when he discipled them on the mountain. This is what the Spirit did in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. Peter’s encounter on the rooftop led him to become the preacher to the Jews and Paul’s encounter on the road to Damascus made him the apostle of the Gentiles. Isaiah the prophet had an amazing experience in Isaiah 61. There’s no escape, whoever wants to become a servant of the living God must have an encounter with Him, experience His glory so they can be used as a vessel by Him.

Many Christians studied theology and became pastors or missionaries because they just liked this task. This is a serious business. It’s a spiritual battle. It’s a matter of life and death. One cannot get into such a realm just because he/she likes it, felt a call or someone told him/her to take this responsibility. It requires more than that. Many leaders get discouraged and do not persevere because their initial motive was wrong.

Unless there’s an encounter with God, there’s no warrant to go ahead. Taking spiritual leadership without God sending is not a sign of strength, courage or zeal but surely a sign of impatience, pride and excess of zeal. You might think that it’s obvious but unfortunately many Christians have gone on this path without any orders from above.

In the case of Elijah, it was different. He was already called to be a prophet. By his life and the miracles which happened through his ministry, there were evidences that God was with him. He was not a failure even if he thought his ancestors were better than him.

Discouragement and fears came on the way and he needed to be strengthened physically and spiritually. He would not move an inch and was ready to die where he was because fear and discouragements have paralyzed him. So God provided him food to strengthen him physically so he may walk for 40 days and reach mount Horeb where he will be strengthened spiritually. This is a good reminder that our physical limitations has a direct impact on our spiritual dispositions and objectives.

“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.  There he went into a cave and spent the night.” 1 Kings 19:8

Somewhere down the road God asked Elijah “What are you doing here?”. Surely, God did not ask Elijah that question because He did not have the answer but rather to make Elijah express his frustrations.

“And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn 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.” 1 Kings 19:10

What are your frustrations? What is troubling you? God brought him on Mount Horeb and he went in a cave nearby. So God asked him what are you doing in that cave? What are you doing here. Why are you staying home and no longer on the mission field or at church? Why have you isolated yourself? To this response of Elijah, God said:

“The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” 1 Kings 19:10

Go out of that cave! God out of that comfort zone of isolation, it’s time to have an encounter with God!

Elijah was indeed very zealous and so confident to the point that he mocked the prophets of Baal. He went confidently to meet Ahab who was relentlessly looking into every nooks and crannies to find him and kill him. He stood before 450 prophets of Baal who were powered by evil forces. He even ensured that there was enough water on the sacrifice so as to make it an impossible miracle for it to be immediately consumed by any fire a man could set on it. Elijah had the victory over the 450 prophets of Baal and the Israelites proclaimed Yahweh as God. Just afterwards Elijah prayed that rain comes and it did rain after several years of drought. Elijah was already known to have this reputation “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” 1 Kings 18:16

When Ahab accepted the deal of the burnt offering he was not aware that Elijah’s action would cause even more commotions afterwards. How could this man Elijah become suddenly feeble? Ahab and the 450 prophets could not discourage Elijah but the threats of a single woman, Jezebel made that great prophet flee. It was in fact Jezebel the troubler of Israel. She was the priest-king Ethbaal and infected Israel with foreign gods by marrying Ahab the king of Israel. She wanted to kill all of the prophets of Yahweh and she succeeded and there was only Elijah left. How could a prophet like Elijah with so much power, faith and reputation flee?

It was not only Ahab or Jezebel which contributed to make the prophet flee. The people of Israel discouraged him because they “have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword“. The spiritual state of his people bothered him and he was a wanted man. Better asking God to die now peacefully instead of dying in the hands of idolaters. He needed a renewal and an encounter with the living God. Only that could keep him going.

“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.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  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?”” 1 Kings 19:10

Would you expect thunders and earthquakes when God’s glory approached? No it was a gentle whisper similar to the one on the day of Pentecost.

So Elijah returned from where he came and established a new king that will rule Israel rightly. God also made Elijah a mentor to his new successor Elisha.

In response to Elijah’s complaint that he was alone, God provided him a new prophet Elisha. In response to Elijah’s complaint that the Israelites were all perverted and idolaters, God responded:

“Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:18

In Elijah’s eyes, he was alone and had reasons to give up but he did not see or knew that God had His reserves of undefiled people that would serve him righteously.

Elijah was now comforted to see that good governance of the kingdom of Israel will prevail with the new king and that the spiritual aspects will be taken over by Elisha. Elisha left everything and followed him as a disciple.