“And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. 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. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, 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. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 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. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 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” (1 Kings 19:1-8).
The apostle James records that the prophet Elijah was a man who had all the same human problems and weaknesses as ourselves (James 5:17). Here was a man who had experienced a mighty move of God, yet he was easily discouraged. He had called fire down from Heaven and had defeated the prophets of Baal, but he was fearful of wicked queen Jezebel (1 Kings 18:17-40). This great man of God was hiding under a juniper tree fearful, depressed and hungry, so God sent an angel to encourage and prepare a meal for Elijah.
Our Christian lives can be seen as a journey, but as with all journeys it is easy to get tired and feel like giving up. The Lord not only encourages us to “endure unto the end” of our journey, but He has provided spiritual sustenance for the way (Matthew 24:13). We often become discouraged when there seems to be no end to the constant wickedness in the world and the apostasy in the church. To hide under our own juniper tree is both dangerous and foolish. We need to be “sober, and watch unto prayer” if we are to live a victorious Christian life unto the end (1 Peter 4:7).
Elijah had experienced wonderful miracles: the miracle of the oil (1 Kings 17:8-16), raising the dead (1 Kings 17:17-23), calling fire down from heaven (1 Kings 18:37-38), abundance of rain (1 Kings 18:41-45) and outrunning Ahab’s chariot (1 Kings 18:46). How is it possible that he now had fear and a death wish? Despite the fact that “the hand of the LORD was on Elijah” he became depressed both physically and spiritually (1 Kings 18:46). Nevertheless, if the prophet had really wanted to die he need not have run away!
The root cause of his fear was that he believed Jezebel’s words instead of God’s. He would rather die than face her wrath, but God was not going to allow him to give up before his journey was through. Fear of others has led many away from Christ, but why when we know that He is with us each step of the way? “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Psalm 118:6). We need the courage of our convictions and the determination to face all problems with faith. We can trust in God’s protective care and find all the answers in His word. If we do not feed upon the “Bread of Life” and drink from the “wells of salvation” we will find that the journey is too great for us (John 6:35; Isaiah 12:3).
It is good to get away from everyone else to fellowship with God alone. At such times we can commune with Him without distraction. But we need the fellowship of other believers too. Those who forsake “the assembling of [themselves] together” have usually stopped fellowshipping with God and are running around with the wrong crowd (Hebrews 10:25).
Without the companionship of others it is easy to become depressed and oppressed. Isn’t it strange that those who will not fellowship with other Christians always say, “Nobody loves or cares for me” and “I feel like giving up?” Elijah thought he was all alone, but God had 7,000 other servants that the prophet could fellowship with (1 Kings 19:18). He would never find them if he shut himself away in a gloomy cave (1 Kings 19:9-10).
The Lord Jesus Christ sent out His disciples two by two for good reason (Mark 6:7). We all need the support of others, but how can we have it if we are determined to go it alone? Solomon wisely said, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
Faith is the vital ingredient in the Christian life. This is not just a belief in the fundamental doctrines of Scripture, but also a personal trust in God Himself. Listening to Elijah we would think that he never experienced any blessings or miracles. His fear made him forget all the remarkable things God had done in his life. “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's” (Psalm 103:1-5). Though Elijah had received miraculous answers to prayer, he suddenly lost his faith and commitment.
Like the prophet we are prone to live by circumstances and feelings. There are times when situations overwhelm us, but instead of hiding in the gloom of fear and wallowing in self-pity, we can “encourage [ourselves] in the LORD [our] God” (1 Samuel 30:6). Commitment to Christ means that we are going to take Him at His word. He is still on the throne, He is still with us, and His promises never fail. The only remedy for fear is faith.
Page created 7 April 2006