MOTIVATE

1987 was the first time a familiar and famous phrase was coined. Indeed, the phrase was repeated by private individuals and families before this date. But 1987 began the public utterance of this phrase on a series of television commercials, and has since been repeated year after year. This phrase has answered the question: “What’s next?”
So, what was the phrase? Well, in 1987, Phil Simms’ NY Giants defeated John Elway’s Denver Broncos at Superbowl XXI. After the game, the announcer asked Simms: “What’s next?” And he replied, “I’m going to Disney World!” And thus this familiar and famous phrase has been repeated annually by Super Bowl winning MVP’s.
The prophet Elijah would have made a great candidate for a Disney World commercial after his MVP performance at Mt. Carmel. By God’s instruction, Elijah

• Prophecies a 3-year drought to King Ahab
• Travels to a brook to be fed by ravens
• Travels to a widow’s house and performs a miracle of multiplying oil to fill jugs for food with this widow’s family…
• … also when the widow’s son dies, Elijah prays and resurrects him
• Confronts Ahab and his 850 false prophets with a challenge by fire…
• … wins the challenge in dramatic fashion with pouring a couple hundred gallons of water on the altar but it still lighting by fire…
• … orders false prophets judged &  killed…
• … then prays for the drought to end and the clouds drop thunderous rain

You would think, after this mountain top experience, Elijah would step onto the celebratory platform and say, “I’m going to Disney World!” But instead of marching in a parade, Elijah enters depression. Sometimes victory results in a valley before we understand how to continue the momentum of everyday purpose.

Other phrases we need to familiarize ourselves with is: “Life is hard. God is good,” or “G>∧∨.” These latter mottos are more realistic and reflect the prophet Elijah’s life. Let’s look at Scripture…

EXAMINE    1 Kings 19         A Prophet’s Strength

¹ Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
Elijah did more than implement justice upon false prophets. But Ahab focuses on the part that protects his image and places Elijah in the worst light.

Has that ever happened to you? You honor God with doing good or making a righteous decision, but instead of getting commended you’re critiqued for not doing what someone else wanted. Following Jesus and obeying God will seldom get you praised or promoted on earth. Christians are to live for an audience of one.

² Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.”

Oh that Jezebel sounds so rational, friendly, and cooperative. Not! Jezebel intends to turn Elijah into kebabs.

³ 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. ⁴ But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. 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.” ⁵ And he lay down and slept under a broom tree.

Elijah had conquered 850 prophets, but for some reason he’s afraid of 1. Instead of facing his fears, he flees ~150mi to southernmost area – Beersheeba. There’s a textual variant on v.3 with some translations saying, “Elijah saw” vs “Elijah was afraid.”^[1] The point is, Elijah took his eyes off God and focused on his problem, and fear set in.

Elijah took his eyes off God and focused on his problem, and fear set in.

And this is what we’ve emphasized in these chapters about Elijah. Elijah is not presented to us as an extraordinary hero but as a dependent servant. The NT declares, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours” (James 5:17). Elijah has stress, anxiety, fear, anger, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. So, we’re not meant to imitate Elijah’s faith but meditate upon his weaknesses so that we understand our great need for the incomparable and unrivaled God. – – – watch how God responds to Elijah’s inadequacy and despondency – – – >

^…5 And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.”

Elijah was touched by an angel… ok, seriously, this implies the Lord’s comfort and reassurance. An appropriate touch can immeasurably rejuvenate.  

⁶ 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. ⁷ And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” ⁸ And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

Twice Elijah was found sleeping and awakened by an angel to hot pancakes and water. Undoubtedly, the story goes that Elijah was reading Psalm 42:1 “as the deer pants for water, so my soul pants for you, O God” and then exclaimed, “Deer Park, that’s good water.”[2] Regardless, Elijah is well fed to travel to Mount Horeb/Sinai for 40-days/nights – a spiritually significant number indicating God’s presence with this prophet.[3]

⁹ There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

God continues pursuing Elijah, and rather than lecturing and scolding, He asks a question. God’s questions are always provocative:

• Adam, where are you? Who told you that you were naked?
• Cain, where is your brother?
• Moses, what’s in your hand?
• Jesus to individuals: What do you want? Do you want to be made well?
• Jesus to disciples: Who do people say that I am?
• Jesus to disciples after washing feet: Do you understand what I have done for you?
• Jesus to women, “Why are you weeping; whom are you seeking?”

So, God’s asking Elijah, “What are you doing here?” is another way for Elijah to self-evaluate.

• When you’re attempting to confront or correct someone, it is wise to start with a question.
• But what about you – – what question would God ask you?
  *Where are you?
  *What are you doing in life?

¹⁰ He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

Elijah feels alone, but his feelings are not facts. While feelings and emotions are given to us by God and can be used for good, there are times we need to push through feelings and ground ourselves in what is fact-based and faith-driven.

While feelings and emotions are given to us by God and can be used for good, there are times we need to push through feelings and ground ourselves in what is fact-based and faith-driven.

¹¹ And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. ¹³ And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

God told Elijah to stand on the mountain. A howling wind whistled, an intense earthquake shook, and a fierce fire raged – but God was silent. Then, a low whisper or thin silence^[4] appeared and Elijah did not know how to handle it, so he covered his face. God is in the stillness of a moment.

We don’t need specific styles of music, charismatic communicators, or fancy videos to hear from God. We simply need to be willing to stand still in the moment with listening ears and looking eyes.  

¹⁵ And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. ¹⁶ And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. ¹⁷ And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. ¹⁸ Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

God gives Elijah a task to reinstate his prophetic mission and life purpose. God sends Elijah back from where he left to initiate new kings of Syria and Israel, and also to mentor a replacement prophet in Elisha (examine Elisha next few weeks).

God’s way of helping Elijah out of his depression was to give him a task – get him busy serving outside of his own needs and understand God’s kingdom is broader than realized, expanding to Gentile territory of Syria. Further, Elijah was not alone – there were 7K who had not bowed to baal.

APPLY/TAKE AWAY

• Are you tense and tired?
  Are you angry and feel alone?
  Are you facing surprising and staggering circumstances that are tempting you to run the opposite direction from God?

If so, you need to know that
– God sees you.
– God permits you to take a break.
– God provides sleep, refuge, food,
   and support.
– You are not alone.
   Dt. 31:6 “Be strong and
   courageous… the LORD goes
   before you and will never forsake.
   Do not fear or be discouraged.”

Your problems are not permanent. And there are people who care about you. One of the unhelpful things that Elijah did was abandon his servant (19:3) and isolate from the opportunities he had to gain perspective and grow in faith.

So, pause. See the people around you, and don’t push them away.

• Maybe it’s not you, but you have a friend enduring a significant struggle. They need to hear from you… but not in the way that you think. We might be tempted to challenge them to snap out of it; or download a lecture to them with theological truth and positive pep talks. And while these can be right, sometimes the initial moments rather snapping out of it, they just need some space. Rather than downloading your lecture we need to allow them to upload their perspective. That requires us to listen more than lecture.

• Remember that adversity brings maturity. Sadness, struggles, and suffering can strengthen us. Times of darkness can develop us into better people to help others (2 Cor 1:3-4). Your life story has more to be written. So, you don’t want to miss what God is going to do in your life. Keep going. The same God who began a work in you wants to bring it to completion (Php 1:6). Suffering produces endurance and character, and though we may not be able to fully discern why, we can begin to discern how it refines our faith and cultivates our character (Ro 5:3-5). Each day you are growing and maturing to become a better you.

• Elijah’s ministry is nearing an end but not without some important tasks. God assigns him to appoint kings and expand the kingdom. God also assigns him to disciple a next prophet. Our work and life purpose is always connected to serving others. If you’re frustrated or feel stuck, discouraged and depressed, look for where you can make a difference.
  – Find someone to share your story.
  – Train someone with your talents.
  – Bless someone with your resources.
  – Do what you can, even if its finding little things to give thanks like taking a breath, seeing a bird fed by the Heavenly Father, or to pray for the burden of a friend.

Last…

• Elijah appears again in the NT to teach us God’s protective care.

*John the Baptizer preaches and prepares the way for the Messiah by calling the people to repentance. Many people think John was the prophet Elijah reincarnate. He wasn’t, but did preach in a similar spirit as Elijah.

* Later, Jesus takes the disciples up a mountain.[5] As they discuss, Jesus transfigures his appearance and shines in glorious brightness. Then two others appear in glory: Moses and Elijah. Both individuals were with God on the mountain and they saw holy winds and thunderous fire, yet both survived because they were placed in a cave of protection.
Jesus reappears with these individuals to show that He was that protective covering; Jesus is that mediator of God’s judgment that Israel deserved. On the cross, Jesus received the tornado, the earthquake, and the fire of God’s wrath, so that we can receive the gentle blowing wind of God’s Holy Spirit (Ac 2:2).
And so, Elijah fled from Ahab & Jezebel because he didn’t believe God was in control of his circumstances. But when Jesus faced Pilate & his wife, He didn’t flee. He never took His eyes off God, and endured the cross, trusting that God was in control and that God would raise His body back to life; defeating death, conquering sin, and pushing back doubt and fear.
SO, if a wise God and good Father was fully in control at the cross, then we can be sure He is fully in charge of every circumstance we will ever face.

Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is never in vain
(1Corinthians 15:58)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

---

^[1] J. Gary Millar, “1-2 Kings,” in 1 Samuel–2 Chronicles, ed. Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, vol. III, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019), 676. Also see Dale Ralph Davis 1 Kings: The Wisdom and the Folly, Focus on the Bible Commentary (Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, 2002), 257…. Comparing the verb to fear (yārē) with to see (rā’āh) as similar, believing the latter was original but a scribe interpreted and changed at some point. The overall meaning remains unchanged, and perhaps deepened.

[2] It’s hard for preachers to contain themselves saying things to keep their audience awake.

[3] Consider all the 40 days and 40 nights in Scripture: https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/why-do-so-many-things-take-40-days-and-40-nights-in-the-bible.html

^[4] Donald J. Wiseman, 1 and 2 Kings: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 9, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 185.

[5] Thought inspired and adapted from J.D. Greear sermon on 1 Kings 19.