Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 19:4, 9-10,18

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 19:4, 9-10,18

"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; for I am not better than my fathers.

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 

And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him."

Jealous = zealous

There is so much in this chapter it was hard to find one thing. What I notice first is how weary and exhausted Elijah sounds. Because he had slain the prophets of Baal, Jezebel send a message to Elijah that he will be slain. Elijah flees for his life. When he finally rests under a juniper tree what he asks the Lord is for his life to be over. At that point instead of ravens coming to feed him it's an angel of the Lord. After he arises and eats what the angel gives him he lays down again. The angel comes a second time to wake him and have him eat. This food gives him the strength to go on for forty days.

When Elijah lodges next in a cave the word of the Lord comes to him and asks "What doest thou here, Elijah?" We still see Elijah feeling pretty alone. It is then that Elijah received revelation. As he stands before the Lord he sees great wind rent the mountains, and break the rocks, then an earthquake and after that a fire. After that he is taught the Lord was not in the wind, earthquake or fire but in the still small voice. Why was this knowledge so important to Elijah at this time? Because he had become discouraged after the great manifestation of the fire coming down from heaven consuming the offering upon the altar, and yet the people of Israel did not recognize the power of the Lord. Instead they wanted to have him killed.

Then the Lord asks Elijah again "What doest thou here, Elijah?", and Elijah gives him the same response and why he feels so alone. Then the Lord teaches him his mission, to return and anoint Hazel to be king over Syria, Jehu the king over Israel, and Elisha to be prophet after him. Then the greatest thing Elijah is told is there are 7,000 in Israel that have not turned their hearts to Baal. All is not lost and there is a work for him to do. It is through the still small voice that others have been prepared and will be taught the power of the Lord.

I love how this story shows we are never really alone. Even the strong need to be ministered to.

Day 2469