Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. (1 Kings 19 1-3a)
Elijah had just won an enormous victory over Ahab and 450 false prophets by the Lord’s mighty hand. Now in the very next scene, a mere mortal threatens to kill him, and he runs to the hills scared... so very human of you, Elijah!
How many times do we react the same? God has shown himself to be faithful – not by sending a pillar of fire down to consume my offering, but by sending His Spirit down to consume my trouble. Like Elijah, I often forget the incredible intercession of my Lord and instead cower in fear at the first sign of trouble.
God answered Elijah’s fear by showing His Glory to him and sending him on another mission. I think this is still how God shows Himself – setting us up to do more work for His Kingdom. By putting another opportunity to serve Him in front of us, we can give ourselves to the work of the Kingdom and forget our temporary troubles.
The next mission that God had for the great prophet was one that would be his last before God carried him away in a flaming chariot. Like Elijah, let us be performing the work of the Lord when it’s time for God to carry us to His everlasting Kingdom!
#LoveMatters