ELIJAH: The Restoration
The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans
TEXT: 1 Kings
19:1-18
Introduction
Of all the chapters on the life and
ministry of
Elijah, 1 Kings 19 is, in our opinion, the most instructive and, in
many ways, the
most encouraging because we can all so easily identify with the prophet
and his
failure. Just when the Lord needed him the most, this divinely trained
prophet
proved to be a notable failure and ended up running away from his post
in a
terribly depressed condition.
Elijah had demonstrated courage before Ahab in the king's palace and on
We have asked the question, how could this have happened to such a man
of God?
We saw that part of the reason undoubtedly lie in the problem of his
expectations, in the problem of his lost focus, and in the problem of
turning
to his own strategies (with the last two problems being the result of
the
first). It is right to expect the Lord to work, but our expectations
must never
be the source of our happiness or our confidence in the work of God. We
must
learn to rest our expectations in God's sovereignty, trusting Him for
the
timing and the means.
But the Lord wasn't through with Elijah and failure doesn't mean defeat
or an
end to our ministry. This is also one of the encouraging elements of
this
chapter. Before God could use Elijah, however, there were some things
Elijah
had to learn. Elijah's failure and discouragement (because of his
expectations)
were due in part to two things. First there was his view of what it
would take
to change the nation. His God-given successes had made him take his own
importance too seriously (19:4, 10, 14). Furthermore, he thought the
primary
means of reaching the people was the display of God's power in dramatic
and
spectacular ways. He thought if they didn't respond to that, there was
no hope.
So, when he failed to see the results he expected, he was shattered.
Now as we move into this section, note that five times the word
"behold" is used to highlight an important fact or truth of God's
dealings with the prophet (19:5, 6, 9, 11, and 13). Against the
backdrop of
Elijah's failure, this little demonstrative particle highlights God's
gracious
work to restore the prophet back to his ministry regardless of what he
had
done. Let's look at how the Lord worked to restore the prophet.
The Provision of Sleep (19:5a)
“He lay and slept under a juniper tree.” The juniper tree is not the
coniferous
tree of the genus juniperous. The Hebrew word for this tree or bush is
rothem.
This was a shrub found in abundance in southern
Application: Before we expect too much from ourselves or from
others,
whom we are seeking to encourage with the Word, let's remember this
principle
of the need of rest and that sometimes the physical needs to be cared
for
before the spiritual.
The Angel’s Provision (19:5b)
“Behold, then an angel touched him…” With the word "behold" the
Hebrew text has the word zeh, an adverb of place or perhaps time that
means,
"here" or "now." Literally, the Heb. text reads,
"behold here" or "behold now." This highlights the place
and time when God's angel, His messenger of mercy, comes on the scene.
What's
the Lord pointing out to us in this picture? This special work of God's
grace
did not occur (1) on the summit of
The Nature of This Provision
Verse 5 tells us an angel was touching him, awakening him to eat. But
in verse
7 this angel is identified as "the angel of the LORD," a description
always used in the Old Testament of a special manifestation of God
Himself.
This was no ordinary angel. It was a Theophany or better yet, a
Christophany -
a manifestation of the second person of the Trinity. This was no less
than the
Savior who came personally to minister to the prophet. God sent not the
ravens
as before, nor a widow, nor some other natural means, but the
preincarnate
Christ. Why?
1. To show the prophet His love and grace and perhaps to remind us that
it was
when we were sinners and alienated from God that He sent His Son for
us. It is
also a reminder that the Savior never leaves us no matter how far we
drift
away. He is personally involved in seeking to restore us. The Lord was
not
condoning what Elijah had done or overlooking it, but rather (a) He was
assuring Elijah he was still the object of His love, and (b) that He
still had
a plan and purpose for the prophet just as He does for us when we get
out of
His plan. Compare John 21.
2. This also affirmed the power of God. Though the means may be
completely
lacking to us and all may appear lost and without hope, there is never
an end
to the degree of God's love and care, nor to the capacity and power at
God's
disposal to supply any need at any time.
The Provision of Food - Bread and Water (19:6)
“Behold, there was cake…and a cruse of water at his head.” Elijah
needed some
special instruction from the Lord, but again, he first needed physical
strength
through nourishment. He was in no condition to listen or take in the
Word of
God. Twice he is told to eat and drink, and twice he is allowed to
sleep. Again
we are reminded that as human beings, we were designed to function in
all
aspects of our being - body, soul, and spirit. Though the spiritual is
the
foundation and vital for our overall well being and effectiveness as
the Lord's
servants, still, all aspects of our makeup need care and each part is
affected
by the other parts (cf. Matt. 6:33; 1 Tim. 4:8; Prov. 14:30; 17:22).
Let's note Elijah's response in verse 6: "So he ate and drank and lay
down
again." What does this tell us? When we are depressed and out of
fellowship with the Lord, we tend to be as insensitive and ungrateful
as the
unbelieving world. Elijah seemed to be neither surprised nor
overwhelmed by
this supply of grace. There is no record of any response, not even a
"thank you." It appears he simply took God for granted.
What would we have done if we had been the Lord? Probably made it rain
on
Elijah all night or send a swarm of mosquitoes or fire ants. But God is
merciful, loving, and gracious. Further, He knew Elijah was not yet
able to
respond and God didn't even expect it. His capacity for response and
appreciation would come later. For now, God was patient and seeking to
physically
restore and strengthen.
The Trip to Horeb, The
Verse 8 tells us "He arose and ate and drank, and went . . . to Horeb,
the
Furthermore, the text tells us "He went in the strength of that food
forty
days and forty nights to Horeb." From where Elijah began, a day's
journey
south of
Furthermore, the forty days and forty nights is not without symbolical
significance. (1) As the children of
Point: By God's divine grace and providence, Elijah was
sustained as
Application: (1) Isn't this really another indication of the
grace of
God that even when we are out of fellowship, with our hearts devising
our own
way, the Lord still works on behalf of His children's needs to lead
them back
to Himself? (2) Isn't this also an illustration of how we are so prone
to
prolong our trek in the wilderness in the pursuit of our own solutions
to our
pain and misery rather than quickly turn to the Lord? WHY? Because we
tend to
believe so strongly in our solutions. Because of our pride or our
sensitive
egos we just do not like to admit we are wrong and pursuing a wrong
course.
Elijah in the Cave (19:9a)
His physical circumstances had now improved. This cave was a much
better source
of refuge than a broom tree, but his spiritual condition was still in
shambles.
In other words, the cave represents just another human strategy for
refuge
which, of course, was a substitute for God as his refuge. He may have
felt
better, but he was not where the Lord wanted him spiritually speaking.
Now,
because of his improved physical condition, he is in a better place to
learn
and listen. In fact, some believe that since this cave was somewhere on
The Word of the Lord Comes to Elijah (19:9b)
“Behold, the word of the Lord came to him…” Again we have a section
highlighted
by the word "behold." This calls our attention to what the Lord has
been doing with Elijah - preparing him to hear the Word. Like all of
us, he
desperately needed to hear the Word. He needed further instruction and
insight
that he might see himself and God, and in the process learn a very
important
truth that is also very, very crucial for our day as well.
Please note
God's question: "Why are you
here Elijah?" This was
designed, we believe, to be a soul-searching question. Did he
understand why he
was there from his standpoint and from God's standpoint? Did he grasp
what was
happening? In this question, we have an illustration of the concept of
the Word
reproving and exposing us to our failures, our false belief systems,
and to
God's grace. Did he understand he was there because of his faulty
thinking and
his wrong focus? Did he understand that though he had been running from
the
Lord, it was God who had led him to this very special place to instruct
and
restore him?
Elijah's Response (
“I have been very jealous for the Lord…I, even I only, am left.” His
answer
shows us he had not grasped the issues. He was still smarting over his
failure
as expressed in verse 4. He was filled with his own importance and
angry over
the lack of response and help from others including the Lord. He was
somewhat
bitter because he had served the Lord so earnestly and spectacularly
and still,
he had experienced only rejection and exile. Jeremiah had a similar
experience
(cf. Jer. 20:7-9).
The Lord's Response and Directions to Elijah (
Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord.” The Lord simply
ignored
Elijah's self-justification and reason for being on the mountain.
Instead, He
offers him instruction that would result in special revelation about
the Lord
and God's method of operation. Elijah is told to come out of the cave
and stand
before the Lord. Remember, this cave represented Elijah's human
strategy for
refuge - the product of his wrong focus and thinking. We believe the
Lord was
rejecting Elijah's solution and was showing him that He alone is to be
Elijah's
refuge.
It was to be as David said in Psalm 11:1, "In the Lord I take refuge;
How
can you say to my soul, `Flee as a bird to your mountain.'" Or as David
counseled himself in Ps. 62:5-6, "My soul, wait in silence for God
only,
for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my
stronghold; I
shall not be shaken."
In verse 11, we have another behold section designed to highlight
another
important event - the Lord passing by the cave on the mountain. Why was
the
Lord passing by? To reveal Himself and an important truth in the
spiritual
maturity of the prophet. But suddenly, before Elijah comes out of the
cave,
four events occur, three of them spectacular.
1. A rock-shattering wind smote the mountain around Elijah with rocks
breaking
in pieces. Surely such a spectacular event such as this would announce
the
presence of the Lord and illustrate how He would work in the future.
But no,
the Lord was not in the wind.
2. A dreadful earthquake occurred shaking, possibly, even the
foundations under
his feet. But again, the Lord was not in the earthquake.
3. A sudden fire followed, but this too did not announce the presence
nor the
activity of the Lord. Still, the Lord was not there. All of these
physical
phenomena were known to be precursors of God's coming or presence (cf.
Ex.
19:16, 18; 2 Sam. 22:8-16; Ps. 18:7-15; 68:8; Heb. 12:18). But the fact
God was
not in any of them was tremendously significant.
4. After the fire Elijah heard a gentle blowing, a faint whisper, a
quiet
voice, hushed and low. Elijah knew it instantly (vs. 13a). It was God!
What a
lesson for Elijah! Even God did not always operate in the realm of the
spectacular!
In fact, the miraculous and the spectacular are the exception, even in
the
Bible. We believe the still small voice portrays the work and power of
God in
His inspired Word, the Scripture which is itself alive and powerful, a
spectacular and miraculous book in that it is God breathed and
infallible (cf.
Heb. 4:12; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; James 1:21). And would you note that it is
this that
aroused Elijah and brought him out of the cave where he could have
fellowship with
the Lord, hear His voice, and be restored. Out of reverence for God's
presence,
Elijah pulled his mantel over his face and went out of the cave.
What was Elijah to learn from this? What's the lesson of God's absence
in the
spectacular, but His presence in the small, low voice? God's primary
vehicle
for changing people and bringing reformation and revival is not the
miraculous,
the sensational, and spectacular like
Point: If people will not respond to the Word that is alive and
powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, they are not going to respond
even if
someone comes back from the grave and tells them about hell (cf. Luke
16:31).
Certainly, many people are impressed by the so-called miraculous and
seek the
sensational and the spectacular, but generally, that's not what changes
lives.
This four-fold manifestation of God was given with these four-fold
phenomena to
show God honors and works through the message of His Word, that He
cares for
his people who share His Word, and that it will not return to Him void
(cf.
Isa. 55:11). Either, it will bring judgment on those who spurn it, or
it will
result in positive spiritual fruit for those who believe and respond to
it. The
following sequel of events clearly demonstrates this fact of Scripture.
Again in verse 13, Elijah is faced with the divine question; a voice
comes to
him asking, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" But again in verse 14
his reply was the same. How slow we are to learn and how deep seated
our
feelings of rejection and hurt become established. We keep clinging to
them as
our way of escape and defense. Remember, depression that is not caused
by
physical problems, is one of our methods of escape. It is a human
strategy for
dealing with pain and disappointment. The irony is we seem to be more
willing
to depend on it as a solution than we are to trust the Lord.
The Recomissioning of the Prophet (
“The Lord said to him, Go...” Here the Lord, in the low, still, small
voice of
divine revelation to the prophet, explains and reveals the truth of the
power
of the Word that brings judgment on those who reject it, and blessing
to those
who believe it. Elijah is told to anoint three people and each one acts
as an
agent of divine judgment or blessing.
1. The strong wind may be a figure of the work of judgment that Hazael
of Syria
would perform in
2. The earthquake may be a figure of judgment and revolution under Jehu
that
would destroy the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:1-10).
3. The fire may be a picture of the work of judgment completed by
Elisha,
Elijah's successor (1 Kings
The call of Elisha, a young man available and positive to the Word and
the
Lord, and the 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal illustrates the other
side of the
coin. It showed Elijah that his ministry had not been in vain and that
God's
Word does not return void no matter how things may look to us. The
nation would
not be totally exterminated and there were those who would carry on the
work of
the Lord.
Principle: No one of us is in this fight alone. God is
with us
and we should be with each other as family and fellow servants. No one
of us is
more important than any other child of God. God is using us all, even
in our
weaknesses and trials. Our job is to sow the seed (Luke