30 More Days... Day 17

1Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”
1Kings 19:3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
1Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

Elijah the prophet. Elijah the man of prayer. Elijah, the man who saw the dead raised. Elijah, the man who called down fire from heaven. Elijah, the man who prayed and the rains were withheld and came again. Elijah the mighty man of God.

Elijah the depressed.

Elijah has gotten kind used to having God’s ear. He has gotten kind of used to praying to God and having God answer his prayers. He has seen God do mighty things. After the past 3 1/2 years of running, after the famine induced by lack of rain, after the contest on Mt Carmel, after a mighty victory, after the coming of rain on the land once more, perhaps Elijah felt that it had all been for nothing. All of the hardships he had suffered...useless. All the conflict and confrontation ... for nothing. No real change has taken place. His life is still threatened. He has no one to stand with him. Jezebel has no hesitation, no qualms, about threatening his life. The people have not risen up to repentance. What is the point of it all. What good has it all been.

Elijah runs again. We see him undertake quite a trip. He travels south out of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom, through the Southern Kingdom to the southwest corner of Judah. He leaves his servant there and then travels another day out into the wilderness that lies in the direction of Egypt. He runs and comes to a place where finally exhausted (probably more emotionally and spiritually than physically) he sits under a tree and prays. He prays for death.

This is one of those times that we can look to and be thankful that God sometimes chooses to say “no”. We have already seen God say “no” to Moses. While God doesn’t come to Elijah and say “no” and “don’t ask me again” we do see that ultimately the answer is “no”. Actually, in retrospect the whole situation is kind of strange. Elijah has gone to a lot of trouble to come to a place far away from danger only to ask for death. Had he really wanted to die, all he had to do was stay where he was! Jezebel would have been more than happy to accommodate him. In fact, she had taken a vow to that effect. She wanted to make Elijah “like one of” her dead prophets of Baal. Elijah could have stayed. He could have become a martyr. He could have died proclaiming the God of Israel, a public testimony of his devotion to God and a witness to the people that God was worth dying for. He could have been an example to the people of Israel that they should stand up, even in the face of death, to do what is right and serve their God. Instead he has gone to a lot of trouble to stay alive, only to ask God to let him die. He has failed. It has all been for nothing.

We can all get to feeling sorry for ourselves. We can all get “fed up” with life and feel that it is all for nothing. As the depression overtakes us we come to God in a pretty fatalistic manner. We are no different than Elijah or again (more to the point) it shows us that Elijah was truly a man like us. We can see the difference between his effective prayers of a righteous man and prayers that are far from prayers of faith. God refuses to “hear” such prayers. Instead he does just the opposite. He feeds Elijah with heavenly food. He strengthens him so much that he can go 40 days in the strength of that food.

God is making a point. When it is not by might and not by power but by His Spirit then God is there. There are many impressive things in life. Fire from heaven is impressive. The plagues of God and the judgments of God are convincing. However, this is not always the way that God works. He can work in those things and often those things are impressive, but empty. On the other hand God can also work in the quiet of the heart. He works in the hidden and weak things to confound the wise and the strong. Elijah has had a bit of “pity party” for himself. He thinks that he is alone. He thinks that it is all a lost cause. He is ready to give up. I am the only one left. I have been very zealous, but for nothing. God sets the record straight. No Elijah, you are not the only one left. I have worked openly through you, but I have also worked as a “still, small voice” among 7000 others who have not bowed the knee or kissed the mouth of Baal. Your prayer is flawed. Your journey not my will. Why are you here? Why are you running? The results are mine, not yours. Take courage Elijah. It hasn’t been for nothing. Others stand with you. Others take courage from your obedience, even when you don’t see it.

As Elijah sees this, he is then ready to once more follow God step by step, day by day. He can be used once more by God to accomplish His plan and proclaim His word. He can see that the results belong to the Lord. He can see that the best things aren’t always seen. They aren’t always loud and impressive. Just imagine for a moment if God had listened to Elijah’s request. I am ready to die. No Elijah you aren’t. I still have things I want you to do. I still have a plan that I want you to be a part of. You still have lives that your faithfulness can influence. Besides, you’d miss out on one great chariot ride.

Prayer Request
*Please pray for the Crisis Pregnancy Training weekend coming up from September 26-28. Pray for Sylvia who will be (for the first time) giving the seminar/training. Pray for the people from Ljubljana, Celje and Maribor who will be taking part in this training. Pray volunteers to be a part of the center. Pray for the center to be able to open in the near future (finances, offices, resources) and that it would be an effective help to those suffering crisis and an effective witness. This training will be a big part of that.