When You Are Discouraged - 1 Kings 18:20-46; 19:1-18 - August 12, 2007

Sunday School Lesson – When You Are Discouraged – August 12, 2007

This is lesson two (2) in our series of study.

Our background scripture is 1 Kings 18:1-46; 19:1-18.

Our focus scripture is 1 Kings 18:20-46; 1 Kings 19:1-18.

The journey of the Prophet Elijah gives us insight into the journey of many Christians as we journey with our LORD.

Here are the characters in our lesson:

King Ahab is the king of Israel, the Northern Kingdom. King Ahab was a weak follower of the LORD.

Queen Jezebel – King Ahab married a pagan princess who is a dedicated worshipper of the fertility god Baal. This action angered GOD as we see recorded in 1 King 16:33: 33 Ahab also made an • Asherah pole. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

Prophet Elijah – The Prophet Elijah came into King Ahab’s life with a message from GOD as recorded in 1 Kings 17:1 - 1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers,[1] LXX reads from Tishbe of Gilead said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, I stand before Him, and there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!”

GOD is sending King Ahab a message to get his attention and to wake him up to let him see that he has compromised his commitment to the LORD. Israel had become a Baal worshiping country. Baal was considered to be the god that provided the rain and the bountiful harvest. So THE TRUE GOD of Israel will deliver the first blow to show Ahab that the god Baal is powerless. GOD will not let it rain for several years until HE says the rain can come.
GOD often tries to get our attention to get us to realize that we as Christians are missing the mark HE has set for us. Compromise is devastating to a Christian.

If you read on in 1 Kings 17 you will see how GOD took care of Elijah and those who came to his aid.

GOD continues to send a message to King Ahab, Queen Jezebel, the false prophets and the people. 1 Kings 18 is GOD proving to all the people that HE is WHO HE SAYS HE is, through HIS servant Elijah.

We see the miracles that GOD had performed through Elijah. No rain for several years, GOD sustained Elijah through the famine, GOD raised the widow’s son from the dead and GOD burned up the sacrifice Elijah had made to HIM to prove GOD IS THE GOD of Israel. These are powerful demonstrations of GOD’S presence and power.

Then as many of us who have seen the hand of the LORD work in our lives, Elijah is fleeing for his life.

Let’s read some background 1 Kings 18:20-46:
Elijah at Mount Carmel
20 So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. 21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If • Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him.” But the people didn’t answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh. The God who answers with fire, He is God.” All the people answered, “That [sounds]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. good.” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god but don’t light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull that he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound; no one answered. Then they did their lame dance around the altar they had made. 27 At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, “Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away;[1] Or has turned aside, possibly to relieve himself or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!” 28 They shouted loudly, and cut themselves with knives and spears, according to their custom, until blood gushed out on them. 29 All afternoon, they kept on raving until the offering of the evening sacrifice, but there was no sound, no one answered, no one paid attention.[2] 2 Kg 4:31 30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near me.” So all the people approached him. Then he repaired the Lord’s altar that had been torn down: 31 Elijah took 12 stones—according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel will be your name”[3] Gn 35:10 — 32 and he built an altar with the stones in the name of Yahweh. Then he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold about four gallons.[4] LXX reads trench containing two measures of seed [5] Lit altar corresponding to a house of two seahs of seed 33 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. He said, “Fill four water pots with water and pour it on the offering to be burned and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “A second time!” and they did it a second time. And then he said, “A third time!” and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; he even filled the trench with water. 36 At the time for offering the [evening]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached [the altar]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that at Your word I have done all these things. 37 Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that You, Yahweh, are God and that You have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then Yahweh’s fire fell and consumed the • burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, “Yahweh, He is God! Yahweh, He is God!” 40 Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let even one of them escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the • Wadi Kishon and slaughtered them there. 41 Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.” 42 So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel. He bowed down to the ground and put his face between his knees. 43 Then he said to his servant, “Go up and look toward the sea.” So he went up, looked, and said, “There’s nothing.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” 44 On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming from the sea.” Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get [your chariot]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’ ” 45 In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. So Ahab got in [his chariot]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. and went to Jezreel. 46 The power of the Lord was on Elijah, and he tucked his mantle under his belt and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

GOD proves to all that HE IS GOD and there is NONE OTHER!!!

These are some of my favorite recordings of the presence and power of GOD and of the faith of Elijah in GOD.

I love the statement when Elijah asked his servant, “What did you see?” “I saw a cloud the size of a man’s hand.” Elijah in essence then says. “Quick!!! Let’s get out of here because a rainstorm is coming.” This always blows my mind. Would I get this excited and have the confidence in GOD that HE is going to provide the needed rain if it was reported that there is a cloud the size of a man’s hand? To me this shows the faith of Elijah in GOD to provide. Yet why did Elijah flee when his life was threatened?

Remember Elijah had told Ahab that it would not rain until GOD said it would rain. Ahab was right there with Elijah.

All these events also got the attention of King Ahab.

Let’s read 1 Kings 19:1-18: (With Comments)
Elijah’s Journey to Horeb
1 Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.

It seems to me that King Ahab is reporting to the Queen the power of GOD over Baal. Baal was exposed as a false god and clearly defeated. I think he reported to her in hopes it would result in Jezebel seeing that the GOD of Israel is the true GOD and not Baal. Jezebel does not take this news well.

To give you another view on this verse, some scholars point to the fact that King Ahab is focused on what Elijah did and not on what GOD did. And this shows that King Ahab’s heart has not been changed toward GOD. I question this because King Ahab accompanied Elijah after the events leading up to the moment Ahab reports to Jezebel.

2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”

She does not budge. She is ticked because her prophets were killed. She sends a message to Elijah, that she will have him killed. So how does Elijah respond to this news?

3 Then Elijah became afraid[1] Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads he saw and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, 4 but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “[I have had]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my fathers.”

Elijah became afraid. I can understand this reaction. Many of us see the power and presence of GOD working in behalf of HIS plan and purpose and think this same power is not available to us personally. So Elijah escapes. But GOD has a plan to reveal truth to HIS Prophet Elijah. Elijah is ready to die but GOD intervenes.

5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lord returned a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” 8 So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 He entered a cave there and spent the night.

Elijah finds a broom tree or a juniper tree. GOD sends an angel to minister to Elijah. Does this remind you of CHRIST in the desert? CHRIST was in the desert for 40 days before HE launched HIS ministry. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before they entered into the Promised Land. It seems to me that GOD allows HIS children to go through the desert or wilderness when HE is preparing them for ministry. Elijah needs to refocus his ministry. Elijah goes to the Mountain of GOD and enters a cave to rest and sleep.

Elijah’s Encounter with the Lord
Then the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of • Hosts, but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”

Elijah is discouraged. There is a difference between being discouraged and depression. Depression is a mental disorder that needs attention. Discouragement needs attention as well. However that which can change us from being discouraged to becoming encouraged can turn quickly.

Elijah feels like he is a failure and he let GOD down. He is discouraged to the max. In fact I think Elijah may even think GOD is out to get him through the hand of Jezebel. Notice that Elijah gives GOD the same answer as first recorded in verse 10. It seems like Elijah is reminding GOD that he has been doing his best for HIM and he is the only one left. He has been faithful so why allow him to be killed?

GOD is preparing to reveal truth to Elijah. As mentioned earlier, Elijah seems to think that GOD is not interested in him, personally. GOD is about to change that notion.

11 Then He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.” At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs 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 there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.

GOD instructed Elijah to go out of the cave and stand on the mountain. GOD wanted Elijah to have an unobstructed view. When HE is obedient to GOD’S command, GOD passed by. GOD passed by Moses and now GOD is passing by Elijah. Why? Did GOD want Elijah to see where HE was as GOD reveals the power of the wind, earthquake and fire?

These are the things Elijah had witnessed earlier in his ministry – there was a drought, fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice and rain to end the drought. Did GOD want to separate signs and wonders designed to get the attention of a broad number of people versus the soft whisper which is personal? GOD wanted Elijah to see that the wind, earthquake and fire as tools HE uses to accomplish HIS purposes but they are not HIM.

Elijah observed the power of the wind, the power of an earthquake and the power of fire but GOD was not in any of these. GOD was showing Elijah that these are powers that impact earth broadly but the power that impacts HIS servant is specific and comes as a soft whisper. It is individual. There are manifestations of GOD’S power for everyone to see and behold but there is the power that is personal and individual. Elijah had heard GOD’S voice because GOD had been instructing him.

13 When Elijah heard [it]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. , he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

It seems as soon as Elijah heard the soft whisper he knew and understood that GOD was speaking to him personally. GOD was interested in him as an individual.

It seems that GOD is saying to Elijah, “You saw MY power and presence at work in Israel, do you now see that I can take care of you? I am interested in you personally.” So Elijah, why are you here when you are supposed to be back in Israel serving ME? Elijah responds to GOD’S question.

14 “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”

Elijah gives the same answer he had already given to GOD. It is an honest answer to GOD’S question. Again, Elijah feels like he failed GOD. He was afraid for his life, which indicated that he did not trust GOD to protect him. Through the question GOD asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Notice GOD calls him by name, which indicates to Elijah that HE knows him personally. This is also a message from GOD to Elijah. “Why are you here? Because I still have work for you to do. You may think you failed but that is MY judgment and not yours. I am not through with you and I will take care of you.” So with this understanding GOD gives Elijah instructions about the next step HE wants Elijah to take.

15 Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16 You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17 Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. 18 But I will leave 7,000 in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to • Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Often when we don’t trust the LORD, HE wants us to retrace our steps. HE tells Elijah to go back the same why you came and here is what I want you to do. GOD tells Elijah that HE has a plan to put HIS people in control and Elijah will be the one to put this into action.

Then GOD makes an important statement to Elijah. GOD always leaves a remnant behind to carry on HIS work. Elijah thought he was the only one who was faithful to GOD but GOD revealed to him that there are seven thousand (7,000) who have not bowed a knee or kissed Baal.

I think GOD revealed this fact to Elijah again to reinforce the fact that GOD is interested and cares for the individual. GOD knew each of those who had not served Baal. GOD always knows our heart.

It is easy for us to become discouraged. When we are discouraged with GOD we try to get away from HIM. But HE shows us that HE is where we are and cannot escape HIM. So we need to be honest with HIM and tell HIM why we are discouraged with HIM. Then HE will reveal to us truth. Never give up on GOD and do not hide your disappointment or discouragement with GOD. HE will place your feet upon the solid rock of JESUS.

My wife and I were discussing this lesson and the LORD revealed to her that often we look for signs and wonders. Elijah had been immersed in signs and wonders – no rain for several years not until GOD brought the rain, GOD rained down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice to prove HE is the GOD of Israel and HE ended the drought by sending rain. Elijah had been intimate with all that was going on but when it came to him and his life, he was afraid. He felt like he was a failure. GOD had to show him that HE did care for him as an individual. HE warmed Elijah’s heart by speaking to him in a still soft whisper.

Signs and wonders do not sustain us when we are journeying through life and serving GOD. It is our personal relationship with GOD that sustains us. It is the quite reassurance of the still small whisper of GOD that we are HIS children. It is CHRIST in us with the calm reassurance of the HOLY SPIRIT in our lives that brings comfort during difficult times in our lives.

Many of us become discouraged as we journey with our LORD but HE is not in the wind, the earthquake or the fire but HE ministers to us through the still soft whisper of HIS voice, I will be with you always. Come unto HIM all who labor and find rest. My prayer is that all who need a touch of the hand of CHRIST to be refreshed, reassured and restored will receive it.