A Halting Look At Elijah, God’s Messenger On The Run
Lessons From Elijah – part 3
INTRO: A few weeks ago I started a series that looked at Elijah’s life. Elijah was an interesting character. He was a special character in God’s word. He was capable of great feats and miracles. He was capable of failure as well. Today we see him on the run, miserable in his failure, human just as are you and I. Today our message is, “A Halting Look At Elijah, God’s Messenger On The Run.”
Since I was gone last week, I want to do a bit of review.
Willing to serve in simplicity – 17:2-7
Willing to sustain those who might be hurting – 17:8-16
Wanting to save widow’s son – 17:17-24
Connected to the creator – 18:1a
Challenged the corruptness of sin (even in the king) – 18:21-40
Called out to God for his care – 18:41-46
1 Kings 19:1-4 KJV 1And Ahab told Jezebel
all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the
sword.
2Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods
do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of
them by to morrow about this time.
3And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and
came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
4But 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.
Even in his greatness, his miracles, his grand experience, we see a man that was after all human…
Supply ordinary needs
Send extraordinary help
Send down the fire form heaven
False prophets’ falseness revealed
False prophets removed
Yet…
He panicked– 1 Kings 19:3-4
Failed to trust God
Failed to stand firm
Failed to trust others (servant left behind)
Quit (essentially) - 4
Removed himself from the field of play
Refused to play – sat down
Requested death
Tired
Regretful
Discouraged, dismayed, (even) depressed
Not all that different than Moses, Jonah, and Paul, who also wanted to “just die” once in their careers
1 Kings 19:5-18 KJV
5And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel
touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the
coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him
down again.
7And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched
him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great
for thee.
8And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of
that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
9And 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?
10And 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.
11And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.
And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the
mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was
not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was
not in the earthquake:
12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was
not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped
his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave.
And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou
here, Elijah?
14And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts:
because 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.
15And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the
wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king
over Syria:
16And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king
over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to
be prophet in thy room.
17And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword
of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall
Elisha slay.
18Yet 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.
Still speaking to him – 5
Still ready to use him
Elijah the one of self pity
Remembered his “exploits” – 10
Reveled in his (own) glory – 10e
We find…
Elijah was exposed to God’s real and right touch – 11
More than raw power – 11c
Wind – I think of tornadoes, hurricanes, and cyclones
Earthquakes – a moving experience
Fire – fearful to say the least
God speaks to us
God touches us
God lifts us up
He told Elijah to:
Anoint Hazael
Anoint Jehu
Anoint & get others ready (Elisha)
In a side note or BYW…
You are not alone – I have 7,000 more that can do the job, so get over it!
God has servants who will serve
God’s servants will help each other serve God well
God’s servants will have the ultimate victory
1 Kings 19:19-21 KJV
19So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was
plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the
twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I
pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee.
And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
21And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew
them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto
the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and
ministered unto him.
We may need help overcoming our difficulties in life
God will help us in life
He may use others to help us help ourselves
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 082408am