Scripture
“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, ʻMay 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[a] and ran for his life...He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ʻI have had enough, Lord,' he said. ʻTake my life; I am no better than my ancestors.' Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.” (Philippians 4:4-7)
Observation
From a bold prophet, a fearless conveyor of Truth, a faith-filled warrior to a scared, discouraged shell of that man ready to quit...what happened? One day Elijah fearlessly challenged the crowd and 450 prophets of Baal because he was fully confident, fully assured, full of faith that his God, the One True God, would show up, would show out, and would reveal His power, but the next day this same man was praying for his own death. What brought about this pendulum swing of faith and emotions?
After achieving one of the most incredible victories and seeing the awesome power of God right before his eyes, Elijah found himself in another battle that now threatened his life. Jezebel, a devout follower of Baal, was irate that Elijah proved his God’s superiority, so she vowed to kill him within 24 hours. Now, after facing down the crowds and the prophets I would think this threat wouldn’t affect this fearless follower of God, yet, for some reason, it really got to him. We’re told he was afraid, ran for the desert, hid, and prayed for his own death. What in the world happened!? Today I found myself starting to judge Elijah and condemn him for totally abandoning his faith, yet that’s when I realized how I regularly do the same thing!
Application
Today it was actually Elijah’s failures that revealed what I need to work on as I seek to strengthen my faith:
- Elijah trusted that God would come through in front of others and for others, but when it came to himself and the quietness of his individual life his faith shriveled. How often do I do the same thing!? How often do I have faith that God will answer my prayers and bring healing, provision, and blessing to other people, yet when my family is sick, when my bank account is short, or when I’m confronted with a tough situation I fear, I forget, and I try to fix things on my own. I need to believe that God is faithful to care for others needs and my personal needs.
- After his running and whining we find Elijah falling asleep. Ever notice how we often fall into sin when we’re tired, exhausted, and a little out of it? Pastor Wayne says, “Tired men make mistakes”, and I’ve definitely experienced that in my life. After the battle and the miraculous victory, maybe Elijah’s exhaustion contributed to him losing his perspective, losing his confidence, and losing his faith in God. If I know that I’m susceptible to falling, to frustration and anger, to sin when I’m tired I need to be even more cautious and aware in those times. I need to prioritize rest and recovery so that I can continue living in obedience to God.
- Even in Elijah’s failure, God was loving and gracious. Notice how God didn’t harshly rebuke him for his lack of faith. God provided for Elijah’s physical needs with rest and food, He reminded Elijah of His power and greatness by revealing His presence, and He sent Elijah back out on a mission. Boy, am I grateful for the grace and mercy of God who forgives our failures, provides for our needs, reminds us of our identity in Him, and re-commissions us to service.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for the lessons You’ve revealed to me through Elijah victories and failures. Please forgive me for my lack of faith, forgive me for forgetting and losing sight of your goodness, and forgive me for my selfishness. Thank You for Your undeserved grace that loves me through every failure. Please help me to stand strong in faith all the time: for others and for myself, for the big things and for the little things, and in the good times and the challenging times. In Your name, Amen!
