HOW NOT TO FALL INTO DESPAIR (1 Kings 19)

Elijah had just come from a confrontation with the prophets of Baal where he ended up killing all of them. (Chapter 18)

News of this reached queen Jezebel and she sent a messenger to tell Elijah that she would also have him killed. Fearing for his life Elijah decides to go into hiding.  (v. 1-3)

What strikes me as strange here is that in spite of the fact that God had just done several miracles through Elijah, he was still afraid of what Jezebel wanted to do to him. Its almost as if Elijah suddenly had short-term memory loss of God´s faithfulness and power in his life.

What about us? Can we still remember how God has worked miracles and wonders in our own lives? Or has our own memory failed us? Has the wonder faded?

God is all-powerful and unchanging. He has delivered us in the past and can, still and will deliver us  from whatever we are going through now and what we will go through in the future. KEEP REMEMBERING GOD AND HOW HE HAS DELIVERED US IN THE PAST SO WE DON´T FALL INTO DESPAIR. (1 Samuel 17:37)

WHAT´S THE BEST AND EASIEST WAY TO REMEMBER? DECLARE WHAT GOD HAS DONE. KEEP TELLING ABOUT HOW HE HAS BEEN FAITHFUL TO YOU TO OTHER PEOPLE.

Another clear cause of desperation was because Elijah´s focus has shifted. From a prophet focused on God (as shown in his own prayer in Chapter 17:14, 21 and Chapter 18:36-37) to someone focused on himself (Chapter 19:4).

While it is true that Elijah´s situation was really something to be really concerned and anxious about. Elijah was not equipped to face that situation on his own strength. In the same way that he was not equipped to cause the miracles that just happened in Chapters 17-18. In contrast, let´s look at David in 1 Samuel 17: 26, 36, 45-46.

 Anytime we try to do things on our own, trusting on our own strengths and capabilities, eventually we will fail. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON OUR OWN STRENGTH LET´S FOCUS ON THE SOURCE OF OUR STRENGTH SO THAT WE NEVER GET INTIMIDATED, FEARFUL OR ANXIOUS OF THE SITUATIONS THAT COME OUR WAY.

While in hiding, Elijah falls into despair. At this time, God sends an angel to take care of him.  Twice the angels came to feed him with cake and water. (v. 4-7) *

After the encounter with the angels, Elijah journeys on to Mount Horeb where he comes face-to-face with God. In the first encounter God asks Elijah “What are you doing here Elijah?” To this Elijah answers with his list of complaints. (v. 8-10)

After this first encounter, God instructs Elijah to stand on the mountain and wait for Him. While waiting for God Elijah encounters strong wind, but God was not´s  there. Then an earthquake came and still God was not there. After the earthquake, a fire but still God was not there. (v. 11-12) **

Finally, God comes to Elijah in the form of a gentle blowing and again asks Elijah for the second time “What are you doing here, Elijah?”. To which Elijah again replies with his same list of complaints. (v. 13-14)

It amazes me how similar Elijah´s and my own cries to God are. In these passages it seems as if Elijah comes to God complaining that in spite of his zealousness for Him, still he feels alone and persecuted. (v. 10,14). I shudder when I think of the many times I´ve come to God asking / complaining.

Ironically, as early as verse 6 we see that Elijah was never alone. God sent His angels to feed him. In verse 9, 11 and 13 God speaks to him. Yet he still feels alone and abandoned.

As I look at how God was showing Elijah that He was with him it occurred to me that God was reminding him of His faithfulness and power.  Notice that God sent his angels to feed him much in the same way that in Chapter 17 God provided for his needs through the ravens, the brook and the widow.

God also reminds Elijah of how powerful he is by using nature itself to demonstrate His power. Notice how as the Lord was passing by, there was a great wind, then an earthquake and then a fire. Much in the same way God demonstrated his power to Elijah using nature in Chapter 18:38, 44-45.

In the midst of the difficult circumstances of life that we face God also sends us the same hints / reminders of his faithfulness and power. We can find these by reading His word, the Bible, and by fellowshipping with other Christians and seeing how God is currently working his wonders in their life. 

However, the moment we go incognito, start hiding, start looking at our own strengths; the moment we stop remembering how faithful God has been to us, stop spending time with Him by reading his word, stop fellowshipping with other Christians, that´s when we slip and fall into desperation.

Reflections on 2 Kings 6:24-32; 7:1-10 The King and The Four Lepers

As I was chewing through these passages, two things started to stand out for me. God reminded me of two things:

1. STOP LOOKING AT YOUR OWN CIRCUMSTANCES, LOOK TO ME INSTEAD! I really don't know why but all throughout my reading of this book, this lesson just keeps popping out and hitting me.

a. The Kings Response ( v.18-23)

God had just performed a mighty miracle by striking the Aramean army blind through Elisha. Yet, it seems the king had forgotten this. As they were being besieged again by the king of Aram, he saw the desperate plight of his people and his inability to save them. I would think that given the fact that he had just experienced God’s deliverance, he should not have been in despair. Unfortunately, he focused on the circumstances surrounding him and then looked at himself. Is there anything wrong at looking at or assessing the situations or the circumstances around us? Of course not; however, it’s the response after the assessment where faith is truly tested. The king was driven to despair. His heart was hardened as shown when he says through his messenger in verse 33: “This disaster is from the Lord. WHY SHOULD I WAIT FOR THE LORD ANY LONGER?” His response was to have Elisha put to death.

b. The Lepers Response (Chapter 7:8)

I am again amazed at the contrast God uses to make a point in this passage. From a high and mighty king housed in a palace and dressed in fine robes to four lepers, homeless, helpless, cast-out, most likely dressed in tattered sackcloth. The great thing here is that God reveals to us that the contrast between these two people is just on the outside. For in chapter 6:30 as the king tore his robes in despair we find him dressed in sackcloth as well under his robes. There was no difference between the heart condition of the king and the lepers.

The king had one response—that is to blame God and vent his anger on Elisha. The lepers had a more complicated response. In their desperation they just decided to “give it all up” chapter 7:4 gives us a picture of just how desperate their situation was. I find it hard to relate to the king. I was never born rich or privileged in this life and as such cannot fathom the king’s despair. But God bless the lepers! I am humbled and reminded of how God delivered me from my own situation not too long ago (and maybe to a certain extent—even now).

2. REMEMBER THAT GOD IS SOVEREIGN.

a. The king , in his desperation, was driven to pride and lashed out in anger at God by intending to have Elisha killed. Why pride? I think it was because he felt “entitled”. He felt that he didn’t deserve to be besieged. Again, I am reminded of the times when I react almost like him, asking God “Why? Why are you allowing this to happen to me? Have I not accepted Jesus as my savior? Am I not one of your sons?” Then I remember what Jesus went through and I am all at once sobered and humbled. God shows His sovereignty by having Elisha boldly tell the king of what He is about to do and He does it in Chapter 7:16. He did not deserve this for his intentions were evil, yet God delivered him and the Israelites from the siege. Grace.

b. The lepers, in the midst of their own desperation were shown God’s power and grace. They found the Aramean camp empty and were able to eat and drink and get clothes and silver, etc. I would think that given this blessing they would have responded in thanks to God. But instead, they intended evil as shown in Chapter 7:8 (“Then they took silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them. They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also.”) But even here, God shows His sovereignty by changing their hearts and causing them to report this to the palace.

In both these instances, God shows grace, sovereignty and power. He reminds me that He can use even the darkest and most dire of situations, the evil in the heart of both kings and men, even these He can use TO BRING ABOUT THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS PLANS. I’m reminded of Proverbs 21:1 “The heart of a king is like channels of water in the hands of the Lord. He turns it wherever He wishes.”

Brother/Sister in Christ as I am encouraged by this passage, I encourage you as well. If you are facing a difficult situation right now, if there are people who are intent on doing you harm, remember that the God you serve is a SOVEREIGN GOD! Call out to Him. He will answer you. He is your help, your protector, your watcher, your deliverer… (Psalm 121). Call out to Him. Do not make the same mistake I often make, looking at my own capabilities, looking to my own strength. Call out to Him and witness His sovereignty and power displayed and experience His GRACE.