There is no doubt about it, Elijah is in a bad way emotionally. First, Let's take a look and see what he is displaying in his life in this passage:
- Fear “Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.” (1Kings 19:3 ESV)
- Illogical thinking “And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”” (1Kings 19:4 ESV) In verse three He is running for his life, and in verse 4, he is asking the Lord to take his life! That doesn't make sense. If he wanted to die, why didn't he just let Jezabel do her thing?
- Depression “And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”” (1Kings 19:4 ESV)
- Exhaustion-“And he lay down and slept under a broom tree” (1Kings 19:5 ESV)
- Lonliness-“and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”” (1Kings 19:10 ESV)
- A great exciting, emotionally draining spiritual victory in the slaying of the Prophets of Baal. (See 1 Kings 18:18ff)
- The threat of Jezebel, (2 Kings 19:1-2)
- He has been frantically running (v.3)
- He has forsaken his servant (v.3)
- Solitude-“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree.” (1Kings 19:4 ESV)
- Rest-“And he lay down and slept under a broom tree” (1Kings 19:5 ESV)
- Food and Water-“And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again.” (1Kings 19:5-6 ESV)
- Communion with God- “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”
2 comments:
Hey Brother,
There was a time that I wondered how a Prophet who had just seen the all consuming power of God demonstrated and even taken into his own hands the power over life in the killing of 400 false prophets could be set to running by the threats of one woman regardless of her position and power. Then I realized, as perhaps could be derived from your notes, he was only human. Human with human weakness and frailties, fears and doubts, exhausted by the tasks God had given him but even more exhausted from the living in a world which he was only passing through. I have considered, perhaps Elijah as many, thought too much, worried too much and reserved too much in his mind for himself rather than actually releasing it to the power of God. What is certain is this, God may not give us a spirit of fear but the evil one seeks to kill and to steal and destroy and certainly will put thoughts and emotions into the minds of every servant of God, fear being one of his greatest tools. And you are correct when you say that men need sabbaticals to restore themselves but even more, men need the prayers of other men to restore them. That avails much when Belial in on one’s trail. Thanks for a well though out post.
I remain,
David
This post has made me think. I have been in the same frame of mind before as Elisha in this passage, and its just really interesting and cool at the same time how God provided for him exactly what He knew he needed to go on. Thank you for this post! I love you!!
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