On the Run – (1 Kings 19)

After the showdown at Mount Carmel, Elijah was riding the high of having disposed of the prophets of baal from the country. So it came as a shock to him that even after witnessing the miraculous downpour that ended the famine, the hearts of the Israelites still did not turn towards God. To make matters worse, Ahab had informed Jezebel about how Elijah had slaughtered the priests of her father’s nation. The jilted queen vowed to remove the constant thorn, that was Elijah, by having him killed in the same manner as he killed the prophets of baal.

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

1 Kings 19:3-4 (NIV)

It appears unusual that Elijah would flee from Jezebel’s anger following his courageous display on Mount Carmel. It is possible that he hoped for a change of heart from the wicked king and queen, and when that did not occur, fear overtook him. He did not seek guidance from God when he fled his land and reached the southernmost part of the country, Beersheba. When we take matters into our own hands without seeking God’s guidance, we may be overwhelmed with guilt, as the tempter tries to convince us that we have lost God’s support. During such moments, rather than succumbing to the voices around us, we must come to God proclaiming our weaknesses and asking for His help.

However, Elijah did not approach God with his fears; instead, he prayed for God to take his life as he felt he had endured enough. Perhaps he did not wish to face death at the hands of Jezebel, instead choosing to surrender to the will of God. Exhausted and lacking the energy or desire to continue fulfilling God’s work, he may have felt burdened by guilt for not strictly adhering to God’s word and for having killed the prophets of baal. Elijah had already gone into hiding when he prophesied the rains, and even after the rains had come, he remained in hiding due to the repercussions of his actions.

With this contemplation in mind, he reclined beneath a broom bush and drifted into slumber. In that moment, an angel reached out to him, offering nourishment in the form of bread and water. Upon consuming the provisions, he promptly returned to his rest. Subsequently, the angel appeared once more, urging him to strengthen himself, as he had a lengthy journey ahead into the desert. He was set to embark on a forty-day and forty-night pilgrimage to Mount Horeb, the very place where God had encountered Moses during Israel’s journey to the promised land.

The Gentle Whisperer

While Elijah was hiding inside a cave during the dark of the night, the word of the LORD came to him asking what he was doing there miles away from the place where God had placed him. Elijah gave him his standard reply twice saying that he had been zealously following God all of his life but now he feared for his life at the hands of the Israelites who had rejected God in favour of the deities of the world. God told him to come outside the cave he was living in and stand on the mountaintop as He was about to reveal Himself but Elijah chose to ignore God and remain at the mouth of the cave.

While Elijah cowered inside a cave in the dead of night, the word of the LORD reached him, questioning why he had chosen to hide himself in a place far removed from where God had directed him. Elijah responded twice, insisting that he had wholeheartedly served God throughout his life. However, he now feared for his life at the hands of the Israelites, who had forsaken God for worldly deities. In response, God instructed Elijah to leave the cave and stand on the mountaintop, promising to reveal Himself to him. Nonetheless, Elijah chose to disregard God’s command and remained entrenched at the cave’s entrance.

… 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.

1 Kings 19:11-12 (NIV)

Elijah anticipated encountering God through the aforementioned ways, yet God chose to manifest Himself through a whisper. This contradicted Elijah’s expectations, particularly after witnessing God’s formidable display of power during the showdown at Mount Carmel. Nevertheless, God did not reveal Himself in a dramatic way but simply desired to engage in a conversation with him. While Elijah may have anticipated God to take action against the people for their deeds, God’s gentle revelation also signified a second chance for not only Elijah but for Israel as well.

The LORD instructed him to return the way he came and go to the Desert of Damascus to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. He was instructed to anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king over Israel, and anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat, to succeed him as the prophet in Israel. However, Elijah did not anoint Hazael or Jehu as kings of their respective countries. Even his call to Elisha deviated from God’s command.

A Servant for Elijah

Elijah travelled to Abel Meholah and found Elisha ploughing his fields. He threw his cloak around him perhaps to indicate him as his successor. Elisha immediately left his oxen and was ready to follow Elijah. He only had one small request, to kiss his father and mother goodbye.

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

1 Kings 19:20 (NIV)

So Elisha bid a final goodbye to his family before accompanying Elijah as his servant. He sacrificed his yoke of oxen and used the ploughing equipment as firewood to prepare a meal for his family. Perhaps this was a way he was indicating his commitment to the LORD by foregoing his former means of monetary gain. Elisha knew the struggles that lay ahead and did not think of saving for himself from his previous life of luxury. He had faith in the LORD to be his provider and this could be seen in his actions.

So Elisha bid farewell to his family before joining Elijah as his servant. He offered up his yoke of oxen and used the ploughing equipment as firewood to make one final meal for his family. Perhaps this was his way of demonstrating his dedication to the LORD by relinquishing his former source of income. Elisha was aware of the challenges that awaited him and did not consider securing provisions for himself from his previous life of comfort. He placed his trust in the LORD to provide for him, a conviction evident in his actions.

Discussion Questions

1. After the showdown at Mount Carmel, why did Elijah run away from Jezebel’s wrath?
2. Why was Elijah disheartened to the extent that he prayed for God to take his life?
3. Why did God choose to reveal himself to Elijah through a gentle whisper?
4. Why is Elisha slaughtering his oxen before committing his life to God?