Scripture:
1 Kings 19:1-3 ESV
[1] Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” [3] Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
Observation:
I love the Bible. There are so many amazing stories about amazing people who failed. I know that sounds like a dig, but it’s not. Elijah was a prophet of the LORD who had just won this amazing victory over 450 prophets who served a false god called Baal. Calling them out on the top of a mountain to a friendly companion. He put them to shame as YAHWAH proved HIMSELF to be the one true GOD. After this incredible victory that GOD gave Elijah. News got out. Ahab, who was king at the time, told his wife Jezebel what had happened, and she got mad about it. My guess is that she wore the pants in the family. Elijah was more scared of her than he was of Ahab. He runs for his life after a death threat. Fear had blinded him. The LORD had just shown out. It was fresh in Elijah’s mind, exactly who GOD was yet fear got the best of him. He ran until he could run no more and fell asleep under a tree. If we were to continue the story, we would find that he was woke up by an angel 2 times feed and told to take the strength from the food because he had a 40-day journey ahead. I want to keep in mind that 40 is the number that represents a time of testing.
Application:
It’s surprising how quickly fear can blind us from who the LORD is. It seems to happen right after a great victory in our lives. Maybe after a great time of ministry to others. The enemy will sneak into our thoughts. He is a deceiver, and his tactics never really change. Oh, he may repackage them, but they are the same. It has been said… the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. I would like to repackage that and say the only thing we should fear is GOD, and HE tells us not to fear anything else but HIM. I do have to say that I find it refreshing to know that GOD uses imperfect people to do HIS perfect work. I would like to leave us this morning with this… GOD does not give us a spirit of fear but of peace, love, and a sound mind. That being said, we know that if fear is involved, it’s not from the LORD. Don’t run stand on the victory GOD has given you. Knowing that if HE has done it before, HE will do it again. Maybe just maybe this is part of the test that James talks about that will bring your faith to completion.
Prayer:
Father, we trust you, and we know that you are working all things to for the good. We pray this morning that you always remind us of the victory. It’s something you have promised us, we need to know how to stand on it. Victory is not a one-time thing. We pray that the sound mind you have given us would be the one we lean to rather than the fear that the enemy has tried to plant in our hearts. We do not want our soil to receive that seed it is a weed that must be plucked out of our hearts and thrown into the fire. Father, we pray for your reassurance on this day. That you would confirm to us that what we are doing is from you help us to not be full of fear. Our life is not about us. So let your purpose prevail. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.