By: Obed Pineda
There he laid, alone and resigned, inside a cave at Mount Horeb. The mighty “prophet of fire” (as he is known by some today) had been victorious in a contest of dueling prayers against all the false of prophets of Baal and Asherah, thoroughly proving to all that Jehovah God is indeed the one, true God (cf. 1st Kings 18:19-40). The severe drought that had punished the land, was lifted by his humble plea to the Lord Almighty again confirming that He is God, but also that “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16b, cf. 1st Kings 18:41-46). Despite all of these marvelous victories in the name of the holy God, Elijah lied inside that cave, feeling defeated and like a failure. He had already prayed once before, “that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers’” (1st Kings 19:4). Elijah’s deep sorrow sprouted from the fact that Queen Jezebel refused to accept that her gods were not gods, and her vow to avenge the death of her false prophets by taking his life (cf. 1st Kings 19:1-3). It is possible that the man of God anticipated Jezebel’s obstinate reaction considering her absence during the event and was more troubled by King Ahab’s hardened heart since he was present to witness the people proclaim, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God” (1st Kings 18:39)! It may be, also, that Elijah felt forsaken by the same people who had just verified that (compared to the prophets of Baal and Asherah) he was a prophet of the true God. Consider the fact that Holy Writ does not mention nor indicate that none of the men and women who were there, came to his aid nor offered him asylum when the royal lady issued her threat to the prophet. There is little doubt that any, or all, of these reasons could have been the source for Elijah feeling like he failed in his task to uphold the mighty name of Jehovah God before his peers. One thing is made abundantly clear by Scripture; the prophet felt alone in his battle against Jezebel’s wicked reign (cf. 1st Kings 19:10). Twice did the prophet of fire profess, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (1st Kings 19:10, 14). It is wise to carefully consider what Elijah is unveiling as the origin of his personal pain. Consider the fact that this prophet was living in a society ripe with moral corruption; he was living in the northern kingdom of Israel after all (cf. 1st Kings 21:1-22:40, 2nd Kings 17:5-41). Ahab and Jezebel’s venomous reign over Israel was heavily founded upon the worship of the false gods of the Sidonians (cf. 1st Kings 16:29-34). Jezebel abused her power as queen to exterminate the prophets of the LORD, undoubtedly to silence them from denouncing her gods as false, thus effectively intimidating the rest of the kingdom into submission. Many of these faithful, godly servants that Elijah watched slain by the evil Jezebel were his co-servants, friends, his spiritual family. These were men and women with whom he had shared a bond like none other; an arduous zeal for the matters belonging to God (cf. Psalm 119:63, Mark 3:31-35). Having these precious relationships taken from him so abruptly and harshly, understandably created a void in Elijah’s life. Working zealously to return the hearts of Israel to God, only to observe them recede back into their shells, uninterested or uninspired to return to serve Jehovah, increased that loneliness inside of him. Taking these facts into account should brighten our understanding of why the prophet of fire felt so alone. For this reason, God’s magnanimity is made manifest in His cure for Elijah’s troubled heart. Having expressed to God what weighed down his heart, God prescribed to Elijah the tonic of fellowship. He commands His prophet, “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place” (1st Kings 19:15-16). God did not allow his servant to seclude himself as sought to do for this would only serve to increase his despair and heartache. Holy Scriptures caution that “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment” (Proverbs 18:1). Viewing Elijah’s words and actions through the lens of the inspired proverb, it cannot be disputed that it was not the wisest moment for the prophet to be allowed to be alone. Furthermore, one can observe that Elijah sought companionship in service to God. The three men that the prophet was commanded to anoint were all going to serve Jehovah God’s purpose (cf. 1st Kings 19:17). Yet, it was vital for the Father to reveal to Elijah in that moment, “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (1st Kings 19:18). How comforting and motivating it must have been for the man of God to hear that he did not stand alone against Jezebel and her gods! The news that the fire for God and His law still burned brightly among thousands as it did within him, undoubtedly uplifted and consoled him tremendously. Still, it was not just informing the prophet that he was not alone that refilled his strength, but we read as well that God provided for Elijah an apprentice and colleague who “arose and followed Elijah and become his servant” (1st Kings 19:21b, 2nd Kings 2:1ff). The company of this loyal servant who was like-minded with Elijah in zeal, service, and love for God exhibits Paul’s reason for him petitioning the young Timothy, “Be diligent to come to me quickly” (2nd Timothy 4:9, cf. Philippians 2:19-22). God’s antidote for Elijah’s profound solitude is wise to learn for ourselves. There is no denying that the civilization that surrounds us is growing further and further away from God, and this unbelieving mindset makes it difficult for the child of God to persuade mankind to return to Him. Lamentably, it is no secret that the level of passion or interest for following Jesus and His commandments continues to wan inside of His Church with every generation that follows. Due to this, it is possible to feel defeated and disconnected as the prophet did, and for this reason it is wise to remember what was revealed and instructed to the prophet. First it is essential to keep in our in mind’s eye that we are not ever alone in this world, thus “do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2nd Kings 6:16). Secondly, after being reminded that we do not stand alone in a cruel and wicked world, we must diligently seek the fellowship of those saints who share the same love for God and His Kingdom. This, dear reader, is the tonic that God prescribed His prophet to heal his ailing heart. Amazingly, the Son of God, too, took this same tonic of fellowship when His heart ached from what would take place at Calvary (cf. Matthew 26:36-38).