ELIJAH: The Vulnerability Of Victory
The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans
TEXT: 1 Kings 19
Introduction
The humanness of
the heroes
of the Bible can be tremendously instructive and encouraging to the
heart, and there
is probably no passage that we can relate to more than 1 Kings 19.
While we
should know better, we tend to think of the heroes of the Hall of Faith
(Hebrews 11) as possessing something special that we do not have access
to. We
think of them as though they were a different breed, almost god-like,
with
special attributes we can't have.
Some look at the Elijah of chapters 17 and 18, the man of faith, and
then look
at the Elijah of chapter 19, the man of fear with a critical spirit.
They
wonder, "How could he change like that?" It's almost like, "If I
had seen God's power displayed like that, I would never run like he
did."
In essence, however, in the record of the New Testament we have a much
greater
display of the power of God in the person, life, death, resurrection
and
ascension of Christ. Furthermore, those who respond this way about
Elijah's
actions in chapter 19, are overlooking the many ways they may fail to
take a
stand or fail to do the things God has called them to do according to
the clear
principles of the Word. They see themselves as never running away
because, like
the seven thousand hiding in caves, they never put themselves at risk
as Elijah
did. Rather than deal with a problem, for instance, they remain at a
comfortable distance, but isn't that really the same thing?
Or perhaps we are plagued with another idea. We look at these heroes of
the
faith or listen to many Bible teachers today with their promises of
deliverance. Then we think about our own struggles and failures and
wonder if
there is not something terribly wrong with us. We have adopted the idea
that we
should have somehow reached the point that we do not struggle. The MYTH
is
Christians who are truly spiritual never get down. If we are truly
mature, we
will have finally learned to trust the Lord to the degree we can float
effortlessly along on cloud nine because we have learned the so-called
secret
to the higher life.
But that kind of theology does not fit with the Word of God. It is a
theology
that says too much on the one hand and too little on the other. We can
experience God's victory by faith (cf. 1 John 5:4-5). We can experience
the
Christ-exchanged life as we count on His life by faith and trust in the
indwelling power of the Spirit of God. But none of us do that
perfectly, and
none of us will do that without difficulty and discipline. We can grow
in
Christ and we can become more experienced and consistent in trusting
the Lord,
but none of us will ever reach perfection at resting in the Lord in
this life
(Phil. 3:11-17; Gal. 5:17; Rom. 7:15-25; 1 John 1:8-10).
Elijah, remember, was a man of like passions with us (James
Contrasts in Attitude
Chapter 19 stands in stark contrast to the preceding two chapters. It
deals
with the same man, but the difference is like night and day. The
contrasts are
noteworthy because they show us just how vulnerable we all are and how
careful
we need to be. For a few moments, let's take time to examine these
contrasts to
observe some ideas and thoughts concerning our attitudes and our
vulnerability.
Contrast 1: In chapters 17 and 18, we saw Elijah strong in the
power of
God and his divine operating assets - the Word and Prayer. But in
chapter 19,
we see Elijah weak -weak in himself and operating out of his own
tactics or
solutions.
Contrast 2: In chapters 17 and 18, we saw Elijah productive.
There he
was used of God to minister to others, to vindicate the name of the
Lord, and
to bring his people back to God. But in chapter 19, we see Elijah as a
deserter, non-productive, running away and failing to be a helper to
God's
people.
Contrast 3: In chapters 17 and 18, we saw Elijah victorious,
bold,
confident in the face of all kinds of odds, facing 850 prophets of Baal
at
once. HE HAD A GREAT ATTITUDE AND FOCUS. But in chapter 19, we find
Elijah in
failure, depressed, fearful of Jezebel, running scared, and wishing he
was
dead. HE HAD A POOR ATTITUDE.
Contrast 4: In chapters 17 and 18, we saw Elijah occupied with
the Lord,
aware of God's presence, aware of the enormity of God's person, and
using his
assets in the Lord - the promises of the Word and Prayer. But in
chapter 19, we
find Elijah occupied with people and conditions, not God. He was
completely
problem oriented. He failed to pray and stand on the promises of
Scripture. HE
HAD A WRONG FOCUS.
Not once in chapter 19 do we see Elijah going to the throne of grace.
Not once
did he claim the promises of God. Furthermore, he acted as though what
Jezebel
claimed about the gods of Baal were the truth and what he had claimed
and
proven about Yahweh was false (cf. 1 Kings 18 with 19:2-3). Thankfully,
God
graciously came to Elijah.
This involves an age-old problem. Again, it is one of focus and
attitude.
Whenever we become occupied with our problems rather than with the Lord
it
creates a terrible distortion. It's like looking through the wrong end
of a
telescope. Instead of magnifying the person and power of God, focusing
on the
problem shrinks the person and power of God in our eyes, and magnifies
the
problem. Our problems become giants or mountains when in essence, from
God's
standpoint, they are not even molehills. For three classic
illustrations of
this: (1) We have the Israelites who, seeing the giants in the land
rather than
the Lord, also saw themselves as grasshoppers and at the mercy of the
giants
(Num.
Contrast 5: In chapters 17 and 18, we saw Elijah physically
nourished
and sustained as he waited on the Lord. But in chapter 19, we find him
physically weak, famished because of a lack of nourishment and lack of
rest. He
had failed to take time to eat or rest and he had failed to take his
concerns
to God.
This is another one of those chapters that point us to the realism and
honesty
of the Word of God - a mark of its character as God-breathed. The Bible
is not
such a book that a man would write if he could, or could write if he
would.
Generally, when people write about their heroes, they tend to paint a
beautiful
picture while they ignore the failures and weaknesses, especially
during this
time in history. Remember the TV show called "This Is Your Life"? It
was always a glowing portrait of a man's strengths, but all the
weaknesses were
removed. Someone has said, "When God gives us a portrait of a man, He
paints him wart and all."
Questions: Why such a difference in the prophet's attitude? How
could
such a change occur? Why is this portrait of the Prophet in the Word?
We dare
not ignore this question because in its answer we find one of the
reasons for
this chapter in the Word of God.
Answers: We are given this portrait of the man Elijah: (1)
Because God
is perfect veracity, truth, He can do no less than state the facts
about man.
God is not interested in deifying and exalting mankind as people try to
do
because that is harmful for us as the following points will show. (2)
Because
it is so important for us to know the truth about ourselves that we
might have
no illusions about whom we are. This includes our heroes. Elijah,
remember, is
a representative person and this portrait helps us to see ourselves.
(3) The
reason? So we will reach out and draw upon God's grace and mercy.
Illusions
about self hinder that. We need to have no such illusions so we will
turn from
our own resources to God's. We need to stop building broken cisterns
that hold
no water and come to the Lord as the river of life (cf. Jer. 2:13; John
4:14).
(4) This portrait helps us see the need to glory in God rather than in
people.
(5) Finally, perhaps this portrait and reality will help us stop
trusting in
the lies we tend to believe. These lies are devastating to a healthy
spiritual
walk with God. Simply put, lies are beliefs, attitudes, or expectations
that
don't fit reality. We learn our lies from a variety of sources -
parents, our
friends, the culture we live in, even our church - and they make life
emotionally miserable, even unbearable.
Some illustrations of the lies we tell ourselves are: (1) I must be
perfect.
(2) It is easier to avoid problems than face them. (3) You are only as
good as
what you do. (4) You are only worthwhile if you are successful. (5)
Life should
be easy. (6) Life should be fair. (7) My sins or failures, etc. causes
all my
problems.
God gives us this portrait of Elijah to teach us how vulnerable we are,
how
important our focus and our attitudes are, and how much we constantly
need the
grace of God for every moment and every breath. God portrays people,
especially
the great heroes of the faith, as they really are - mere human beings,
earthen
vessels, clay pots. We are instruments used by God to display His
glory, but
worthless in ourselves apart from Him (1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 4:7; cf.
Isa.
64:6).
Based on these contrasts in the life of Elijah, this great hero in
God's Hall
of Faith, we want to share some thoughts that are pertinent before we
begin our
exposition of the specifics of the passage.
Concept 1: These realistic portraits of the great heroes of the
faith
teach us to expect perfection out of no human being - including
ourselves.
Perfection is found only in heaven and in the person of the perfect
God-man,
the Lord Jesus.
Concept 2: They are designed to teach us that our strongest
point is
also our weakest - the very place where we are the most vulnerable and
susceptible to defeat. A Christian’s greatest strength is focus,
dependence and
faith in the Lord, but this is also his greatest place of
vulnerability. So
where does Satan want to attack us? In the area of our need to depend
on God. Unless
this is remembered, defeat will always follow victory. Misery will
follow
blessing. This is why the Word warns us, "Therefore, let him who thinks
he
stands, take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12). This warning occurs
close
to the end of a passage that deals with the principle that privilege
never
guarantees victory or success (1 Cor. 10:1-11).
Concept 3: Chapter 19 also reminds us that every public servant,
evangelist, elder, Bible class teacher, etc., no matter how apparently
gifted
and used of the Lord, is only an earthen vessel, a man or woman of like
passions with feet of clay. They are not Saints who have successfully
climbed
the mountain of sanctification like a super spiritual athlete who now
sits
enthroned over the world, the flesh, and the devil, while the rest of
us poor
souls struggle along trying to learn their secret. Unfortunately, many
Christians look at their church leaders and famous Bible teachers
through
rose-colored glasses. Their attitudes and expectations are, to say the
least, completely
unrealistic. In view of this principle, let's consider several
important
concepts about leadership:
* Those who are in places of leadership (and this includes parents) are
to be
examples, models to the flock and to their families. Scripture is clear
on
this. Being a model for others is one of the great challenges of
leadership (1
Tim. 4:12; Titus 2:7-8; 1 Pet. 5:3b; Heb. 13:7). We should expect our
leaders
to be models of the faith, but we should not expect them to be perfect.
Remember, Elijah was a model of praying in faith, but he was not
perfect as
chapter 19 illustrates.
* Scripture teaches that leaders are to be respected and held in honor
for
their work's sake (1 Thess. 5:12-13), and followed as examples within
reason as
long as their lives comply with the Word.
* As mentioned above, we should never expect our leaders to be perfect.
We
should never regard them as anything more than ordinary men of like
nature, as
brethren, as mere earthen vessels (cf. Matt. 23:8-11). Like us they
have feet of
clay and are just as prone to sin and a fall as the next person (cf.
Acts
14:11-15; 1 Cor. 10:13)
.
Every servant of the gospel is but an earthen vessel of clay in which
God has
placed His treasure (2 Cor. 4:7), the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ,
the
truth of the Word, and the person of the Holy Spirit. IN OTHER WORDS,
HE OR SHE
IS NOT A VESSEL OF STEEL OR SILVER OR GOLD, BUT AN EARTHEN VESSEL OF
CLAY. THIS
MEANS WE ARE EASILY MARRED AND CRACKED. But there is a special reason
for this.
In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul says, "that the surpassing greatness of the
power
may be of God and not of ourselves." The reason is that we might not
glory
in people, but in God (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7 and 1 Cor. 2:1-5).
* We are all but instruments of God (1 Cor. 3:5). Note these points: a)
The
MESSAGE which is alive and powerful, is God given. It is not the
invention of
our wisdom or brilliance. b) Regardless of what people may think about
our
method, skill in teaching, or oratorical ability the effects of the
message are
likewise God given. Both the gift and the effects, if bonafide, are God
given
(1 Cor. 3:5-7; 12:4ff). c) Thus, like a lamp without oil, the
instruments are
entirely without value and weak in themselves apart from the Spirit of
the
Lord. There is never any cause for self-glorification, nor should we
boast in
others
(1 Cor. 4:5-7).
* God is jealous for His honor and glory and will not give His glory
unto
another (Isa. 48:11). He has chosen the foolish, the weak, the
despised, the
base things of life, and the things which are not (mere nobodies) to
accomplish
His purposes. Why? That no person should glory in His presence (1 Cor.
1:27-31). Consequently, as God's servants, we should all desire to be a
clear
vessel though which people may see Christ; not a stained glass window
that
draws attention to itself through flashiness or sensationalism. By the
same
token may we not become a dirty window, but one that is clean allowing
people
to see beyond us to Christ and the truth of the Word (1 Cor. 2:1-5).
* People at their best, apart from the sustaining grace of God are mere
air,
altogether emptiness, a mere breath (Ps. 39:5).
Concept 4: Not only do public servants, like Elijah, elders, and
evangelists, have feet of clay, but they often come under special
demonic
attack because of the work they do as proclaimers of the Word (1 Thess.
2:17-18; 2 Thess. 3:1-2; 1 Cor. 16:9). This means they need the
diligent prayer
support of the body rather than criticism.
Conclusion
It is comforting to know that saints of God (such as Elijah) were of
like
nature with us. It illustrates the truth of 1 Corinthians
The failures and weaknesses of the great heroes of the faith should
never be
taken as boulders for us to hide behind so we can excuse our failures
in
continued irresponsibility. God holds us all responsible for how we use
what He
has given us (cf. 1 Cor. 4:2; 2 Cor.
Examples like Elijah in 1 Kings 19 stand as warnings or danger signals,
not as
excuses for failure. Lord willing, in our next lesson, “Elijah: The
Crisis”
(which some of you have already received) we will look at the failures
of
Elijah and how the Lord lifted him up, put him back on his feet, and
back into
ministry.