The Fear of Elijah

1 Kings 19:1-4

“1Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”

Elijah had just killed 450 false prophets of Baal and 400 false prophets of Asherah.  God had demonstrated His awesome power to the people of Israel and they had praised God. Yet, Elijah was so stricken with fear because of a threatening letter from Jezebel that he fled into the wilderness over 130 miles away and he asked God to kill him.  What is going on?

The key to this puzzle lies in Elijah’s statement, “for I am no better than my ancestors.”  He was a man who was used by God to communicate His messages to the people of Israel; a man who could, with the help of God, work miracles; who was frequently so filled with the spirit of God that he could transport himself to different geographical locations instantly.  Elijah was to be regarded by the people of Israel as one of its greatest prophets.  Yet, he felt he was no different than the other prophets.  Why did he say this?

After Elijah had killed the false prophets of false gods, he discovered that the world had not changed.  Just like the other prophets, Elijah was unable to stem the flow of evil in Israel.  The weak Ahab was still King.  The evil Jezebel was still Queen, and she wanted him dead.  So, he fled into the wilderness and asked God to kill him.

As Christians, we may feel this same disappointment, that despite our efforts year after year, the poor remain poor, the lost remain lost, and the powerful continue to exploit the weak.  We may think, “What difference does it make whether the Church exists at all?”

But just because God does not meet our expectations, it does not mean that He is not working in the world.  God used Elijah according to His plans, His will, His schedule.  God may be using us to open the door, lay the groundwork, or to influence another person that He will use in a more powerful way than He used us.

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” (1Cor. 3:19)

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)