Bible Study - Elijah (5) - Serve Even When Discouraged - 1 Kings 19:1-18 - August 22, 2021

 

Bible Study – Elijah (5) – Serve Even When Discouraged – August 22, 2021

This is our fifth lesson in our series entitled, “Elijah: Living Outside the Comfort Zone.”

Our focus scripture is 1 Kings 19:1-5a, 11-18.

Don’t let discouragement keep you from serving.

Satan uses every tool he can to prevent GOD’S chosen from serving GOD. The Prophet Elijah had just had one confirmation after another that GOD was very much leading and guiding him:

-         Elijah told King Ahab that the One True GOD of Israel would reveal HIS power over the false god of rain and fertility, Baal, by not allowing it to rain.

-         GOD led Elijah to the wadi (small puddle of water) where HE ministered to Elijah’s physical needs by the wadi having water and the ravens bringing Elijah food twice a day.

-         When the wadi was ready to go dry, GOD led Elijah to go into the city of Zarephath, which was in the middle of Baal worship to a Gentile widow lady. Elijah was obedient to GOD’S instructions and asked her for water and “oh, by-the-way, bring me a small loaf of bread.” By this request GOD made it known to Elijah and to us the dire situation of the widow and her son. When she made the bread, it would their last meal because her supply of flour and oil would be depleted. She did as Elijah instructed. Yet, her supply of flour and oil never gave out so she could feed her family during the famine. GOD also showed the widow lady that HE had the power to restore life to her dead son.

-         GOD was building Elijah’s faith in HIM and the widow lady and her son. A major event was coming up for Elijah. It was the Mount Carmel Challenge between the false god, Baal and The One True GOD of Israel. GOD revealed to the Israelites that HE reigns supreme over all. HE is The One True GOD, YAWEH of the Israelites.

-         So, this brings us to the next event in the life of Elijah. The prophets of Baal had been killed. Elijah prayed for rain and rain came. King Ahab told Queen Jezebel what Elijah had done. So, why did the king not tell her that The One True GOD of Israel, YAWEH, had defeated Baal? What was Jezebel’s reaction to this news? Let’s read on -----

Let’s read 1 Kings 19:1-5a:

Elijah’s Journey to Horeb

19 Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 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!”

Notice, the king does not tell Jezebel that YAWEH had defeated Baal by proving that Baal was a false god.

Queen Jezebel sent a message to GOD’S Prophet Elijah that She was going to have Elijah killed within 24 hours. How would Elijah respond to such a threat? Let’s read on ----

³ Then Elijah became afraid^[a] 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 enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.” ⁵ Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.

Why do you think Elijah reacted the way he did? After all he had experienced the mighty hand of GOD at work both in his life and in the lives of the widow and her son and on Mount Carmel. Yet, he ran.

Elijah knew GOD’S protective care of him when he served him but now the threat from Jezebel was personal. Yes, Elijah knew that GOD was faithful to do what HE had instructed Elijah to do for HIM but now this was personal. This was a threat from the Queen who had powerful resources and after all, her false god’s world had collapsed but she had physical resources.

Elijah was in for the greatest teaching from GOD, that to me, transcends all that we have studied so far. GOD’S desire is for HIS Children to have a dynamic personal relationship with HIM. It is not about the dramatic but the “still small voice.” GOD was teaching Elijah that HE was personal to him. This is a lesson for Christians as well. GOD is personal. GOD is not out there but within. GOD never leaves or forsakes us. Now back to our scripture ----

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 for 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 forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. ⁹ He entered a cave there and spent the night.

GOD ministered to Elijah’s physical needs to get him to the point where HE could minister to Elijah Spiritually. Often, GOD has to get us to a point where we will stop and listen to HIM. GOD desires for each person to be led to a point where he or she has a choice to either accept or reject JESUS as their Savior. Let’s read on ----

Elijah’s Encounter with the Lord

Suddenly, 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 Armies, 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.”

Who are they? Who ran? Did GOD take care of Elijah as he ran? Elijah was on a mountain top but in the valley of despair which reveals that Elijah was human even though GOD had done mighty things through him. GOD needed to reveal to Elijah that he was Elijah’s GOD as well.

GOD understands our human behavior and builds upon it. Elijah needed to experience GOD personally and build upon that personal relationship. This is exactly what GOD desires for every Spirit-born Christian. It is building a personal relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. Salvation is just the beginning of experiencing GOD.

There are times when we, as Christians, have to leave our safe place/cave where we take physical shelter to get up and face the world of despair. We must get up and face the issues of life as led as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Let’s read 1 Kings 19:11-14:

¹¹ Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”

At that moment, the Lord passed by. GOD revealed Himself physically. 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. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

After the powerful physical forces of nature had subsided, suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Notice that the powerful physical forces of nature did not move Elijah but when Elijah heard the voice of GOD, a soft whisper, Elijah knew it and “he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.” Elijah took action and came out of hiding. Elijah needed to make a confession.

¹⁴ “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” 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 was disappointed in GOD. Elijah had great hope in the “LORD GOD of Armies,” but where have YOU been? Oh my, often when GOD has worked through us, we look at what we have done and not that it was GOD working through us. So, what was GOD’S solution to help repair Elijah’s attitude toward HIM?

Let’s read 1 Kings 19:15-18:

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 seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

In essence, GOD told Elijah, you need to retrace your steps and go back because GOD was still in charge and HE would show him that HE was still in charge. Elijah would see that he was not alone in serving The One True GOD of Israel. GOD still was working through Elijah. GOD gave Elijah a vote of confidence. GOD still had work for Elijah to do for HIM.

Never give up on GOD because HE never gives up on you!!!

Often, we can get bogged down in thinking we are alone in serving our LORD and HE has to open our eyes to HIS activity in the world around us. When GOD opens our Spiritual eyes and reveals where HE is working, that is our invitation to join HIM in that work.

Please pray for those who desperately need a helping hand in Afghanistan, Haiti and other parts of the world.

In Zachariah 4:6, we read - ⁶ So he answered me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Armies.   

The LORD of Armies is still at work today. Do not lose faith but rejoice that our LORD is alive and at work in our world today. HE has not abandoned us but still seeks to be our Savior and LORD of our lives. Have you asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your life? If not, now is that opportunity.

Blessings!!!