1st Kings 19 YOU'RE NOT DONE TILL YOU'RE DONE The rage of Jezebel toward Elijah was because she could not control him and he was a constant thorn in her side. Her prophets told her what she wanted to hear and their false predictions would have been of praise and glory in her future. Their role was to set the king and queen up as gods and to make sure their leadership of the nation continued. With the death of those false prophets, she was determined to vent her anger of Elijah and then kill him. He was the one who predicted gloom and doom for Israel, and he was the one who kept her from doing what she wanted. She was a bitter and dangerous enemy of Elijah and he knew it.
There are varying degrees of resistance to the Lord and His people. Some are merely indifferent to spiritual things but they do not want to have anything to do with "God or religion." Others have a latent antagonism that expresses itself on occasion. There are some who are bitterly opposed to the truth of salvation by grace alone without the addition of their own works, because it makes their independent opinion and their efforts of no avail. The teaching of eternal security to others is so abhorrent that one even said, "The teaching of eternal security is right from the pit of hell." We need to remember "We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers. Against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Elijah was not a coward nor was he afraid to die, but he was so discouraged that under the influence of Jezebel, the people of Israel seemed to have no chance of turning back to God. They acknowledged God but that is not true repentance and faith in Him. The victory on Mt. Carmel was one thing. For Jezebel's religious system to be eliminated and the nation to truly turn to God, was another. There are times when revival seems to be coming or maybe even to have started following some dramatic or tragic event like 9/11 in the United States. But unless there are truly changed hearts, the awakening is short-lived.
It is not uncommon for discouragement and fatigue to follow great spiritual victories in the lives of God's people. We have examples like Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Peter and Mark to warn us of situations in which we have experienced God working through us in a special way and yet soon after there are times of discouragement and/or failure. That may lead to defeat of which we are not yet aware because of the danger of fatigued flesh. The Lord Jesus had His disciples to "Come apart and rest awhile." How kind of God to give opportunity to rest before reminding us of the importance of our mission and the need to return to the work. The angel of the Lord provided food and water to strengthen and refresh Elijah so he could go on a journey of nearly two hundred miles, travelling day and night for forty days. At the "mount of God" where Moses met with God, God spoke to His servant Elijah.
It is likely that Elijah went all that way for his own reasons: probably to get as far away as possible from Jezebel, and to die in the place where the word of God was given to Israel in the law. In remarkable grace God enabled Elijah to go forty days and nights without food like Moses before him and the Lord Jesus after him. The three of them met together many years later on a mountain in the sight of Peter, James and John.
Our God often can turn that which seems like an act of misguided willfulness into a time of blessing. Looking back at those times we wonder at the longsuffering of God and are so grateful that He didn't deal with us in the way we deserved.
Elijah didn't directly answer the Lord's question, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" Instead he gave a dissertation of his own activities and implied that he was the only one left who cared about God's will and the covenant He made with Israel. Self-pity can diminish what one has done, because it implies, we accomplished the desired result on our own. Self-pity can defeat us. By its nature self-pity dilutes the victories God has done through us because it exalts us rather than giving all glory to God. There are many of God's people we will never know about, until we get to heaven. They are faithfully serving the Lord in the calling He has given them. Each one of God's people has an individual responsibility to do what they do "as unto the Lord."
When Elijah was rested enough and ready to listen, the Lord was ready to speak to him and again commission him to fulfill the work set before him. The great wind, the earthquake and the fire were all a message to Elijah that God would judge Israel in His own time and way. The gentle whisper was what was needed at the moment when God was showing grace to His rebellious people and His discouraged prophet. It is always wisdom to use appropriate measures at appropriate times to bring about the desired results. We are prone to go too far or not far enough unless we hear God's voice in the quietness of a moment in which we are humbled enough to listen to His word without speaking.
Those moments of divine revelation can change us for a lifetime and make us to be effective in our service for God. The significance of divine guidance cannot be overestimated. When we know what our Lord wants from us, and what He wants to do through us, then we can confidently step out again and go forward in spite of our relapse of faith. A very important part of the servant's task is to make sure others are able and willing to pick up and carry on the work in which they were once engaged. God had prophets in training, ready to step out and do what God wanted in the work of the Lord. He had seven thousand faithful people He "reserved" who would not "bow the knee" (kiss the Baal) or submit to that which was wrong. There may be only a few among those who claim to be children of God who have not surrendered their convictions to the pressures put on them to conform to that which is popular.
Elijah was told by God to anoint a king in an enemy country who God was going to use to bring about external punishment on the nation. He was also to anoint Jehu, Ahab's military leader, to bring the internal punishment God was going to use to correct the wrong behavior of the nation. It would be Jehu who would deal with those who worshipped Baal. Elijah's undone work included anointing a successor to himself. Elisha ("God saves; God is salvation") had Elijah's cloak thrown on him as a testimony that the transfer of divine authority was going to be placed upon him and that soon he would have the responsibility of prophetic leadership. When Elisha was ready for that work, the cloak was left for him when Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire. The first act of commitment on Elisha's part was to finish completely his ties to his source of wealth and independence. No longer would he be an independent farmer. From then on, he was called of God to speak for God and depend on the Lord for everything. The slaughter of his animals, for an offering of thanks and a feast to be shared by the people around, testified to all who were there that Elisha had been chosen by God to be His prophet. The true service of the Lord is not an add-on to the closing of an independent life, but a complete cutting off of self-support. It then becomes a testimony of trust in the Lord alone. Service that is done only at our personal convenience is not what is expected of those who speak for God.
1Kings 19:4. “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, it is enough; now, O Lord take away my life; fro I am no better than my fathers.”
LOST CONFIDENCE. Things might not always work out the way we had planned. Even though we’ve had victories in this promised land – This is not heaven, there is much evil around We need to remember even where there’s sin, grace did much more abound.
When God has allowed us to see evidence of His great power; And His blessings in many ways upon us He did shower – Yet His plans may seem to allow those who live in sin, To overcome righteousness and let evil win.
If things don’t work out just remember who we serve God is still God and He has promised to preserve
A testimony for His name’s sake although it might be small, There are still those who serve Him, and on His name call.
I had thought there might be many thousands saved, And there would be a large number obey the word He gave. But now I know this is not always true – The God of the universe does not overlook the few.
Some I had high hopes for, didn’t stay all the way – I believe they are saved but because of enticements they did stray. Yet they have not bowed to the pressure of apostasy, And God is able to use them though they’re not here with me.
It is important that I remember it is by God’s grace alone That God’s work is completed, not by what I have done. I can be thankful He has allowed me a small part In His great redemptive work, so in confidence, again I start.
“Father God, I praise Thee for letting me be a part of what Thou art doing in my generation. I have suffered the arrogance of self-confidence, but now I am committing myself to “trust in the Lord” and put no confidence in man, particularly myself. My confidence is in Thee alone to be glorified in anything I might do. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”