1 Kings 19:1-4 New International Version (NIV)
Elijah Flees to Horeb
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 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.”
3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
Have you ever wanted to run from a situation in your life? You are fighting discouragement, despondency, and even depression. We have all fought off these feelings. Sometimes we want to just run and get away.
In 1 Kings 19:1-4, we read how Elijah is threatened by King Ahab’s wife Jezebel. She was a woman who wanted to rule over her husband and intimidate Elijah by telling him that she was going to kill him for killing the Baal prophets.
Elijah withers back in being the man of God who he is and he cries out to God and said he had had enough. Then out of discouragement, he cries out to have his life taken.
How could such a man of God come to a place of such discouragement? I would like to give you 5 reasons why Elijah ran and how it applies for us today.
- Elijah was not thinking realistically or clearly. He became short sighted and failed to consider the source of the threat.
- Elijah separated himself from other men. He left his servant and friend. He went alone.
- Elijah was caught in the backwash of a victory at Mt. Carmel. His mountain top experience peaked. He lacked energy to fight off the negativity.
- Elijah was physically and emotionally exhausted. He did not take time to rest and recover himself with the Lord.
- Elijah got lost in self pity. Self pity lies aggravate every situation.
Is one of the 5 reasons causing you to run today? Ask Jesus for help. Get with other brothers in Christ. Refocus your life. Elijah finally did just that. An angel came and replenished him physically and spiritually.
Strength and Courage
Michael
