1 Kings 18:21 CSB – Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.” But the people didn’t answer him a word.
1 Kings 18:23-24 CSB – Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The God who answers with fire, he is God.”
All the people answered, “That’s fine.”
1 Kings 18:38-39 CSB – Then the Lord’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!”
Revelation 2:10 CSB – Jesus said, Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
What Makes Elijah to Want to Quit?
Natural Temperament
1 Kings 18:22 – “I am the only remaining prophet of the Lord.
1 Kings 19:10 – I alone am left
The Gravitational Pull: What goes up must come down
Overwhelming Responsibilities
1 Kings 19:1-2 CSB – Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”
“Today we have multiple priorities — work, digital communication, family obligations, romantic relationships, exercise, food shopping, financial planning — and struggle with triaging: What and who gets our attention?”
The number of hours in the day has stayed the same, yet our expectations for ourselves have multiplied.” (From Essentialism by Greg McKeown)
Disappointment with God
1 Kings 19:10 CSB – “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”
Proverbs 13:12 CSB – Hope deferred makes the heart sick….
Fatigue
1 Kings 19:3-4 CSB – Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, 4 but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness.
God Restores Elijah’s Resilience
God Gives Elijah Rest
1 Kings 19:4-6 CSB – He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.
Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.
Mark 2:27 CSB – Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.
Matthew 11:18-20 CSB – “Are you tired? Worn out? …Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. …Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
God Teaches Elijah to Wait
1 Kings 19:11-13 CSB – Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”
At that moment, the Lord passed by.
A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.
13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Psalm 46:10 CSB – “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
Proverbs 13:12 CSB – Hope delayed makes the heart sick,
but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Acts 1:4 CSB – Jesus commanded, “…wait for the Father’s promise.”
Psalm 27:14 CSB – Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 37:7 CSB – Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret…
Psalm 37:34 CSB – Wait for the LORD and keep his way.
Psalm 40:1 CSB – I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 130:5 CSB – I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
Matthew 6:33 CSB – But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow
God Gives Elijah Fresh Purpose
1 Kings 19:4 CSB – Elijah…. prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.”
1 Kings 19:10 CSB – Elijah: “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”
1 Kings 19:14 CSB – I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,… but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”
1 Kings 19:15-18 CSB – Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16 You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17 Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. 18 But I will leave seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
Acts 13:36 CSB – For David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers
“At the height of Earth, Wind & Fire’s success, I felt an emptiness and void. I studied lots of philosophies and cults and I prayed to God. God made it plain that Jesus Christ died for my sins.” – Philip Bailey
Good books on discovering calling
God Gave Elijah a Friend to Disciple
1 Kings 19:16 CSB – You are to anoint… Elisha… as prophet in your place.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 CSB – Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
