Today’s passage: 1 Kings 19:1-21
Helpful thoughts:
- Elijah fled from Mt. Carmel to the extreme south of Judah and then beyond.
- At the Lord’s leading, he made it all the way to Horeb, which is Mt. Sinai. Elijah went a long way but to a familiar place in the history of the Jewish people.
- One would expect God to voice himself in grand ways like the earthquakes and violent winds. God reoriented Elijah’s view of Him, though His sovereign control would have been even more firmly understood.
- Elijah’s greatest need was not to see God seemingly flex His muscle through these events. What Elijah needed to hear was the words of God.
- The feast Elisha gave to the people was also the end of his work in the field. His yoke and farming implements were no longer useful, his animals slaughtered, he was ready to move forward with Elijah.
Questions to consider:
- Why would it make sense for Elijah to fear the threat of Jezebel? After slaughtering 450 men, how ready would you be for another fight? On the other hand, what could the God who stops and sends rains and brings fire down from heaven for His name’s sake have done for his prophet?
- When we are struggling, do we often clamor for the Word of God or big signs? How can this passage encourage us to confidently go back to God’s Word for help and comfort?
- God’s next commands for Elijah named kings inside and outside of Israel and verified the future of prophetic ministry in Israel! How would these assignments have given encouragement to Elijah after he had despaired earlier? Is God only sovereign over Israel? Would Elijah be the final worshiper of Yahweh? Was God counting on Elijah to win the battle or did Elijah need to count on God?