1 Kings - Chapter 19

The Amazing Bible. Book Club

Queen Jezebel has threatened to kill Elijah so he ran. He left Israel and ran down to Beersheba where the Lord had spoken to Jacob, also known as Israel (Genesis 46:1-4). Elijah left his servant there and then went into the dessert, he cried out to the Lord, "I have had enough, Lord. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors!" Yet the Lord did not yell at him or even rebuke him, instead an angel of the Lord allowed him to sleep, then he fed him hot bread and water, and then he slept again and ate again. Then Elijah went 40 days and 40 nights to the Mountain of God, where Moses had been (Ex. 3:1-4). Once he arrived he went into a cave and spent the night, and the Lord came to Elijah, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Elijah gave the Lord his spiel, but again the Lord did not rebuke him for his lack of faith, instead He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." This also reminds us of Moses on the Mt. of God when he asked to see the Lord's glory (Ex. 33:19-23). A powerful wind came, then an earthquake, then a fire, but the Lord was not in any of these powerful expressions, instead came a still small voice. God was in the whisper, and Elijah covered his face. The Lord asked again, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Again the Lord did not rebuke him for his lack of faith, instead he told him to go back, reminded him that the Lord is in control of the affairs of the day, told him he's not alone in his faith, and gave Elijah his successor, Elisha. Elijah means, "The Lord, He is God!" and Elisha means, "God saves!!!"