If you’ve ever been hated, threatened, harassed, misunderstood, bullied, controlled, or been afraid of someone’s remarks or thoughts about you …. this condensed story of 1 Kings 19 is for you.
Elijah operated in great power, saw the miraculous, and made the name of The Lord greatly known in the presence of His enemies (Baal).
Angry Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah, and Elijah fearfully runs away into the desert. Elijah, is so worn out from fear that he wishes he could just lay down and die. Then, an angel of The Lord (pre incarnate Jesus) comes to feed, hydrate, strengthen, and restore Elijah.
The angel says, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” Yes. The angel (Jesus) knows the choice Elijah is making.
In that very moment, Elijah had a choice to continue on for 40 days and 40 nights of suffering towards the cave at Mt. Horeb - or - to return to His assignment taking on the prophets of Baal and Jezebel. Afraid, he goes on ahead to the cave, and upon arrival, The Lord says, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Yes. The Lord fed and restored Elijah and allowed Elijah to keep running to the cave. Then, his God given prophetic assignment was stripped. “Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.” 1 Kings 19:16
Once The Lord refreshes us from difficulty and gets us back on our feet, we have a choice. To be a son or to cower in fear.
We can choose to run from those who have hurt us, or we can choose to go back and be Jesus to them. We can choose to follow through with our kingdom assignment, or we can choose to relinquish it to another.
Despite it all, The Lord took Elijah up in a chariot and Elijah never tasted death. That’s how much he loved Elijah.
He loves you too. He loves you right where you are and in the choices you’ve made.
But. He wants to see you trust Him to empower you in getting your kingdom assignment completed. Fear will always be the thief of destiny.
“When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can flesh do to me?”
Psalm 56:3-4