Elijah’s persecution is common to many ancient prophets and modern preachers. Purpose: What can we learn from Elijah’s recovery from bitter harassment? Plan: Let’s look at the story in 1 Kings 19:1-21.
He Arose and Ran
After Elijah’s confrontation with prophets of Ba’al, and their punishment for murdering God’s prophets, he became severely depressed.
1 Kings 19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 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.” 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. 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!”
Even in the church, a Jezebel is pictured, “who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.” (Revelation 2:18-29). Faithful preachers still fight false prophets and their heresies.
Arise and Eat
1 Kings 19:5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.
After persecution, time away is good. Faithful preachers will face opposition. The progressive left, the legalistic right, and the wishy-washy middle will all be angry.
What are You Doing Here
1 Kings 19:9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
God may also gently ask what we are doing. Have we worked passionately in God’s service, and been mistreated? What were we expecting?
The Lord Passed By
1 Kings 19:11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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 a still small voice.
Jesus preached about both heaven and hell. God can be like a tornado, earthquake or wildfire, but also a gentle whisper, especially to faithful servants who are disheartened by the ugly side of church life.
What are You Doing Here
1 Kings 19:13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
God’s gentle, quiet encouragement is that there is still work to do. After an evil attack any faithful preacher would feel alone. Rest and recover. A wounded soldier of the cross still has value.
Return, 7000 Have not Bowed
1 Kings 19:15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
The Lord encouraged Elijah to return to the ministry, that seven thousand had not worshipped Ba’al. Christians face horrible persecution in some countries, and harassment in others. Many love God like we do.
Elisha Followed Elijah
1 Kings 19:19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
Elisha prepared a large farewell party and humbly joined Elijah as his servant. A true servant has a teachable heart and just wants to help, without a hidden agenda.
Postlude
Followers of the way must be prepared to experience harassment. Let’s remember that it doesn't end with one bad experience. Take time to rest, even wipe the dust off our feet. Then listen to God‘s quiet whisper. May He give us strength to continue on to the next divine appointment.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
