10

Elijah had won a glorious victory on Mount Carmel, doing so in obedience to the Word and will of the Lord, and for the glory of the Lord.

He had challenged the people to make up their minds, to choose to worship either the Lord or Baal. To stop limping back and forth from one to the other.

Then the prophet challenged the prophets of Baal. "The God that answereth by fire, let Him be God!" The people responded favorably to that suggested test.

The total futility of Baal worship was demonstrated for all to see. Baal could not. answer by fire. No matter how frantic and frenzied the prayers of his prophets became.

The Lord answered the prayer of Elijah. The fire of the Lord fell.

The people immediately saw the significance of this vital development. They responded by shouting, "The LORD, HE IS GOD! THE LORD, HE IS GOD!"

Elijah then went to the place of prayer again. He went alone. Having given to King Ahab the assurance of: "The sound of abundance of rain!"

James said, "And he prayed again!" He did. And the rain came. "A great rain!"

Surely that must decide the issue completely. The Lord sent the fire from heaven. The Lord sent that ''great rain." The dispute must surely be over!

But: no! Not yet! There were still very real battles to be fought. An enemy was still well entrenched. Still untouched. Possibly forgotten by Elijah. But, certainly neither forgotten nor overlooked by The Lord.

"And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword'!"

The people had responded in revived faith. "The LORD, HE IS GOD!"

Ahab ran to Jezebel! Jezebel was most definitely the power behind the throne! She totally dominated Ahab. She was always so very effective in the way in which she cunningly manipulated him.

Jezebel was such a strong dominating personality. Whereas Ahab was so weak. She wielded constant control so as to always accomplish her objectives.

Ahab was an evil man. So very sinful. Degraded. Vile. All the more so because of the way in which he weakly allowed Jezebel to have her way, permitting her to wield her evil influence in and through his life.

"He took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal King of the Zidonians." (C. 16: 31). The next comment is: He "went and served Baal, and worshipped Baal.” Why? Strictly because of the influence of Jezebel. Baal was her god. She pulled the strings, and her puppet, Ahab, bowed in worship before Baal.

"He reared an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria." (16: 32). Why? Because that is what Jezebel wanted.

"And Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him."(16: 33). Why? Because he willingly allowed Jezebel to lead him along by the nose.

Once he married Jezebel he had no mind of his own. No will of his own. Nothing. Jezebel ensured that she was the mind and the will of Ahab!

She was not alone in that. There have been so very many like her since. Men and women, whose evil influence has been so completely negative and destructive. Destroying homes, families, and so much more.

Christians must ever be so very careful! So prayerful! Particularly when it comes to seeking a partner for marriage. It is so urgent to seek to discover the one whom the Lord chooses. The one who is right by His standards! Right in His will!

It is far better to have no one, that to have the wrong one!

Be prepared to wait on the Lord. Totally committed to seek His will and to do it! Be satisfied with nothing less.

"Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done!" Jezebel listened to that report. Hearing all that the prophet of the Lord had done! She hated Elijah before. She hated him ever more when she had heard that report.

She hated him because of his total loyalty to the Lord. Because he uncompromisingly proclaimed the Word of the Lord. Unflinchingly declaring the judgment of the Lord.

She would have destroyed him earlier if she could have done so. Just as she had instigated the slaughter of so many of the prophets of the Lord.

Now she hated Elijah all the more. He had revealed the utter futility of Baal worship, bringing ridicule on all that she valued so highly! All she loved and was infatuated with had been opened to ridicule and mockery. In her blind slavery to evil she hated Elijah all the more.

She hated him because the fire of the Lord fell. Because the power of the Lord was so clearly revealed. Because the Lord's willingness to forgive was made so obvious to His people.

She hated the Lord. She hated anything that honored Him. She hated everything that glorified Him. She hated Elijah for being the Lord's instrument. The instrument of both His glory and His grace.

Jezebel and Ahab are so representative of the attitude of the world. Particularly the attitude of the world to the things of God.

On the one hand, there is the attitude of weak compliance. Being willing to be led deeper and deeper into all that is vile and impure. Willingly embracing all that is degraded and depraved. We see that attitude so often in these days.

Far too many people today, including professing Christians, are only too willing to be led along. Willingly grasping the opportunity to embrace the things of the world, while ignoring the vile pollution which it includes. Willingly choosing to be a personal part of all that is so depraved.

How else can we explain all that is happening? In television. In movies. Books. In far too many schools, in public life, and in homes, people are weakly, yet willingly, yielding to the most degrading influences.

On the other hand, there it the harsh viciousness of Jezebel. That is also clearly a mark of the world today. Clearly illustrating the world's rejection of God and all that He represents. The world is deliberately seeking to totally eradicate His influence.

The world is so quick to get angry with God's people, particularly when they dare to take a strong stand against evil! Or when they would effectively reveal the glory and greatness of the Lord! Showing the wonder of His glorious victories in contrast to the futility of the world.

What a picture. So true to life today! How tragic it is that so many professing Christians cannot see it!

Jezebel listened. Ahab told her, "withal how he (Elijah), had slain all the prophets with the sword."

That was the final straw for Jezebel. They were her prophets. They represented all that she held in the highest esteem.

Elijah had dared to intrude so completely into all that was her sphere of influence and interest. Daring to destroy the men whom she had selected to be her prophets. That was an attack: on her! That was how she saw it. How she interpreted it.

That response is so typical. The servants of the Lord must see this. They must understand this issue clearly. To take a stand for the Lord is to take a stand against the world. A stand against all of the forces of evil.

The world and the forces of evil respond. They see that stand as an assault on them. On their rights. Their privileges. Their power. An unwelcome intrusion into the domain of their authority.

They will not take such an assault quietly. They will not allow such an intrusion to go unanswered.

It is so very vital that we understand this. That we really do fully appreciate the issues involved. Remembering that we are caught up in truceless warfare.

Every time that we attempt to take a step forward for the Lord, we must expect a severe and determined reaction. We will be opposed, that is the inevitable reality, the inescapable fact. We must be prepared for it.

The events on Mount Carmel had no effect on Jezebel. Certainly no positive effect. There is no evidence that she was impressed by them. Except as those events so greatly aggravated her anger!

She was not at all intimidated. Nor in any way impressed. Rather her attitude to Elijah became increasingly negative. It was far more than resentment. It was open strong vindictive hatred!

That hatred for Elijah clearly reveals her attitude to the Lord. She not only hated Him. She hated everything He represented. Everything that He did.

That was the stark reality of that situation. Hated! That is such a strong word. Some may even suggest that it is too strong. The Lord Jesus did not think so!

The Lord Jesus took it for granted that the world would hate His followers, He said, "And ye shall be hated of all men for My Name's sake!" (Matthew 10: 22).

He went on to say, "And when they persecute you!" (Verse 23). "When!" Not: "If!" "When they persecute you!”

The reason for that hated is quite clear. Jezebel hated Elijah because she hated the Lord. That is exactly the way Jesus stated the fact.

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15: 18).

He emphasizes the reason. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (Verse 19).

The line of demarcation is quite clear. So clearly drawn by the Word of the Lord. The world loves those who belong to the world. The world hates those who belong to Jesus.

The Apostle John adds, "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you" (I John 3: 13).

This pattern of hatred was established very early. It began when Lucifer revolted against God. The mark of that revolt was hatred of God. Since then that hatred has been the mark of all who reject God. All these who despise God's Word and will. All those who defy God's authority.

This fact will not change. No matter how many people may want to argue that it is not so.

It was that way with Jezebel. She hated the Lord. She hated Elijah. Her attitude reflects the true attitude of the world.

Nothing has changed today. The world hates the Lord. The world hates those who belong to the Lord. To pretend that that is not the case is deliberate selfdeception.

“Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah saying, So let the gods do so to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."

The significance of that threat was made quite clear. "Elijah, you have slain all the prophets. Now, I guarantee that within the next twenty four hours you will suffer a similar fate!"

But, notice that oath on which she based her threat. "So let the gods do so to me, and more also!"

In one sense, she was safe swearing such an oath. "The gods!" Those like Baal! Those gods whose utter futility had been so clearly demonstrated on Mount Carmel. "Let those gods do so to me!"

Did she really take her own words seriously? It is extremely doubtful that she did. Rather, she used that oath merely for effect. To emphasize her great hatred, along with her determination to exterminate Elijah.

The gods could not hear her words. They could not act. Not even if she failed in carrying out her vicious threat.

But, there was One who did hear her words! One, who took careful note of those words! One who could act! One who, in His own time, would most definitely act.

When the Lord did act! Then Jezebel would experience to the full her "and more also!" As she died a most terrible death, her carcass to be eaten by dogs!

YES! The living God heard! Yes! He acted! Even though in her vile hatred for Him Jezebel totally opposed Him! Even as she foolishly ignored Him!

The Lord Jesus made this significant comment "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment'' (Matthew 12: 36).

“Give account! For every idle word!” We must take that fact seriously.

“If I do not make thy life as one of them by tomorrow about this time.” Her prophets had died by the sword at the hands of Elijah. She personally would see to it that they would be avenged. She guaranteed that Elijah would die in a similar fashion.

There is no doubt as to what she intended by this. Elijah was the prophet of the Lord. His death at Jezebel's instigation would reveal who had ultimately won!

She intended to show the entire nation of Israel that she wielded the ultimate power. Elijah did not wield that power. Neither did the Lord whom Elijah served. She did! She would show them! They would be forced to give her credit for that fact!

She chose to blindly ignore facts. The fact of the absolute sovereign authority of God. The fact that God was still in total control. Not her. Not her gods. These were facts she could not change. No matter how much she threatened.

She could make her brazen threats. But it was God who would say, "Thus far, no further!"

Elijah was not in the hands of Jezebel. Elijah was in the hands of the Lord! There the Lord guaranteed to keep him secure!

The world, allied to the devil, may threaten. Pretending to be able to do something. Full of bluster. Boasting its power. But the people of the Lord are still in the Lord's hands. It was true in Elijah's day. It is equally true today. We can count on it!

Remember Peter's testimony. "Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews" (Acts 12: 11).

And, Paul's testimony. "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (2 Timothy 4: 18).

The great animosity of the world to the believer is real. As is the great hatred it feels and expresses. Yet we are not left alone. The Lord is totally committed to us. He will not fail us. He will see us through.

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13: 6).

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon Thee: because he trusteth in Thee” (Isaiah 26: 3).

“And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there."

Elijah had confronted king Ahab. Repeatedly he had boldly spoken the Word of the Lord to him.

Elijah had confronted all of the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. They were supported by the four hundred prophets of the grove (the Asherah). The count therefore was eight hundred and fifty to one! Yet Elijah had stood his ground in quiet strong confidence.

Elijah had confronted all of the people of Israel. Challenging them, "How long halt ye between two opinions?" He stood there strong in the Lord. Strong in the conviction that he was in the very center of the will of the Lord. He boldly remained totally loyal to the Lord.

But now: he fled to save his life. When he received that message from Jezebel, he ran!

Why? Where was his quiet strong confidence? Where was his assurance that he was in the will of the Lord? Where was his conviction that he was being totally loyal to the Lord? That all that he did was according to the Word of the Lord?

Was he actually outside the will of the Lord? Had he in fact been disloyal to the Lord? Disobedient to His Word? There is only one answer to all those questions: No!

Why then this reaction? Why did he run? Because, he was: a man as we are! As totally human as we are!

There is no doubt but that Jezebel's threat took him by surprise. It caught him unprepared. That fact should not surprise us.

His mind was full of' the great victory which the Lord had won on Mount Carmel. His heart was full of the thrilling revival which had come to the nation. The fire of God had fallen! The rain of revival had come in a mighty deluge!

It is not surprising that his mind was on those wonderful developments. Along with a strong hope that, now, Israel would prove to be true to the Lord. The last thing to be expected in these circumstances was this vicious threat! This most malicious attack.

Great victories had been won. But not the final victory! That could not, would not, be won until Jezebel was removed totally from the scene.

None who humbly walks with the Lord would want to criticize Elijah. Rather, we need to identify with him, to empathize with him. To seek to understand, so that we can humbly learn from these developments.

Who of us has not been there? Only those who have not been involved in the heat of real spiritual conflict. Only those who have not paid the price of sacrificial service! Such may criticize if they feel they must! Their words will prove to be as empty as their lives!

Elijah can be likened to the bow used to shoot an arrow: The arrow sent to strike for the glory of the Lord. As soon as the arrow flies to its mark the bow loses its tautness. There is the inevitable "letdown"! It is then that the enemy strikes!

How we need to learn these lessons. How we need to remember them. That it is after the great victories that the devil will eagerly look for opportunities. Striking when we least expect it. Where we least expect it.

Then we will understand this "fear", and this panic which is so uncharacteristic. At least, we will understand it a little better.

“He arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.”

“But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness.”

Yes, it was fear. Fear which motivated that flight from Jezebel. But, could it be that it was: healthy fear? That flight was the wisest response? Particularly at that moment? The wisest course to take?

We have an interesting parallel in the life of Joseph. Potiphar's wife did her utmost to seduce Joseph. He knew exactly what she was up to. He was well aware of the danger. She had let her intentions be known in such a way that she left no room for doubt.

Yet the day came when she grabbed at his clothing. Demanding that he yield to her. Then, Joseph in healthy fear, fled! He did not stay to argue with her. To rebuke her. Or denounce her impurity and vile immorality. He got out of there as fast as he could!

Joseph is to be highly commended for his actions: his flight. So, if we rightly consider all the issues, was Elijah to be commended, rather than being criticized?

He could boldly confront Ahab, because he had prayerfully prepared himself for that confrontation. He was fully convinced that he knew the heart and mind of the Lord.

The same truth applied to the confrontation of the prophets of Baal, as well as to his confrontation of the people of Israel. In each case he had spent time in prayer, in the presence of the Lord. There his heart, mind, and life were fully prepared.

But he was not prepared for this confrontation with Jezebel. In fact he realized that he was totally unprepared. He had not made this confrontation a matter of prayer. He did not have the mind of the Lord on this matter.

Bravado may want to demand that he boldly confront her anyway, that he should faithfully stand his ground

That is the arrogant selfconfident attitude which some would express. Yet such aggressive selfsufficient bravado is never a mark of spiritual maturity! Never!

There may have been panic in the heart and mind of Elijah. But, there was also enough spiritual wisdom to avoid a confrontation. Particularly when he knew that he was not spiritually prepared for it. He knew that he needed to spend time with the Lord.

Time with the Lord. Time to get the Word of the Lord clearly fixed in his mind. What to say! How to say it! When to say it! He needed the mind of the Lord!

This is an aspect of these developments which we need to take most seriously. The old proverb applies here: "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread!"

Spiritually there are most definitely those times when: "Discretion is the better part of valor!" We are not playing nice little games. We are involved in the most deadly, the most serious spiritual warfare!

Spiritual wisdom at times calls for a retreat into the presence of the Lord. Into the place of humble prayer. There to really have time to know the leading and direction of the Lord. To hear His Word on the issue. To really get to know His will. To discover His mind on the matter.

The Falteringly: not the failure of the faith of the servant of the Lord.

“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."

“A man as we are!” He knew the depths of despondency. The darkness of despair. In that, he shares with so many of the Lord's faithful servants.

Those who have really given their all will understand this. The total exhaustion of all human resources for the glory of the Lord! Totally drained to feel deepest despondency. That is human reality! Why deny it?

Those who are content to only play at Christianity. They are the ones who can be content to stand back and find fault. Vaunting their pretended spirituality as being above such feelings!

Those who genuinely walk with the Lord understand. They have really been into Gethsemane! They understand far more fully. They empathize more completely.

It is only the one who has actually been on “Mount Carmel” who could understand that! Sharing in the glorious victories of tie Lord. To come down from those great heights of glory. Down to the depths of depression. It is ONLY the victor who can share that experience

We listen to these heartrending words of the prophet. We would do well to be silent, and to quietly listen in an attitude of awe!

If the Lord trusts us with such an experience as that we should know that He greatly honors us! We should be so deeply thankful.

The Lord can only take to such depths those whom He knows He can trust! To their experience in fact an expression of His great love for Elijah.

Also, we would do well to note this fact. Nowhere does the Lord fault Elijah. There is not the slightest suggestion of criticism from Him!

Elijah under the juniper tree. Take your shoes off! This is holy ground! The one who does not see that has not really been there. Has never wept with Elijah. Has never genuinely pleaded, “Take my life!” Has never honestly admitted, I am so totally unworthy!

Until we have really been there, it would be so wise to be silent. To stand and humbly observe. With bowed head. In silent awe. This truly is holy ground!

"And as he lay and slept under the juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat."

Lying prostrate on the ground under that juniper tree: There he slept!

He had prayed, "O Lord, take away my life." That was one prayer which Elijah prayed that the Lord did not answer. He understood why His servant prayed it. He understood how totally drained His servant was. Exhausted emotionally. Physically. Even, spiritually.

That is the expression of the great love of the Lord. His perfect love. It was as though the Lord threw His great arms of love around His servant. Cushioned his head. And whispered, “Sleep”. I know that is what you need now.

That is: Our heavenly Father! Those who genuinely love Him serve Him faithfully. Sacrificially. At great cost to their personal resources of strength. He knows. He understands.

When He sees the need He comes to us. In love He bids us rest. In love He takes us into His arms. We may be pleading our failure. Even asking to be allowed to die. He embraces us in His love and bids us rest! He makes it possible for us to quietly recover our strength.

The angel touched Elijah. Woke him. “Arise and eat.” Not only rest, but every need fully provided. That is His unfailing love. For Elijah. For us.

"And 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."

What amazing love. Love had come and lit the fire! Love had baked the cake. Love had awaked His servant to receive all that was prepared. Love! That infinite love which never fails!

Love was reaching down into the depths of his despondency. Love was gently penetrating the hardening shell of despair. Beginning to shatter it. To remove it. Love was still drawing. Inspiring. Encouraging.

He thankfully accepted all that love provided. Then: rest. Rest in the fullness of the love of God. Rest in the reality of the personal presence and involvement of the Lord. Rest: in His unfailing sufficiency.

We read this account, surely doing so with genuine thankfulness. You see: this is the Lord we serve! The Lord who is equally patient with us. Who so loves us with that same tender caring love!

Those who have been there: they understand. They are so deeply thankful. This great love ever inspires more love in them. Wanting to express that love in honoring Him.

"And the angel of the Lord came to him the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee."

The second time! After the servant of the Lord had been resting again. That gentle touch. Rousing him. Calling him again to receive the Lord's provision.

He needed sleep. The Lord in love gave it. He needed nourishment. The Lord in love provided that. In love continued to give it. Until every need was met.

How we can praise the Lord for that reality. It applies to us. In love He fully understands. In love He faithfully provides Every need.

He does not leave us in the depths of despair and despondency. He provides all that is needed to lovingly lift us out! He will not fail His servants. He loves us!

It was not the Lord's will for His servant to die under that juniper tree. He had something more for His servant. His will required his servant to go on. To press on, into the fullness of His glorious will!

"And 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."

This was the man who had prayed, "O Lord, take away my life." But as soon as the Lord spoke, he obeyed! Immediately he knew the will of the Lord, he acted on it!

The Lord still had his heart. His will. He may have been a little confused in his thinking. But where it really mattered, the Lord still had Elijah!

He went, to meet with the Lord on Mount Horeb. Horeb: the Mount of God! There, where Moses had met with the Lord! There Elijah knew that he would meet with the Lord!

Struggling through the darkness toward the light. Knowing that the Lord was still leading. Sensing the hand of the Lord on his life still. He went, in faith, to climb the mount. Fully expecting to meet: with God!

Yes. There will be times of deep darkness. Days of despair and despondency. Times when we will "know" that we have totally failed. When we will want it all to be over.

Why go on? Because the Lord in love comes to us. Takes us in His arms. Assures us that He understands. Enables us to rest. To be refreshed. Patiently providing every need.

Why go on? Because, in love the Lord graciously leads us on!

What is there to go on to? The most thrilling reality of a personal meeting with the Lord! He leads us to that meeting place. Assures us that He will speak to us. He will reveal His will to us.

Why? Because in love He assures us: He still has more for us to do. More to accomplish. As we serve Him for His glory.