By Roy E. Ciampa, Ph.D., S. Louis and Ann W. Armstrong
Professor of Religion, Samford University
Serve Even When Discouraged
1 Kings 19:1–5a, 11–18
Never give up in the face of opposition. (1–5a)
Ahab was a terrible king, but his wife, Jezebel, was the one most fiercely committed to promoting the worship of Baal. She committed herself to avenging the deaths of the prophets of Baal by having Elijah killed. And she swore to “the gods” she would have him killed by the next day.
Elijah “became afraid and immediately ran for his life.” It may seem strange that Elijah would be afraid of such a threat, after having seen God miraculously show up to defend His honor and Elijah’s authority. But Jezebel had killed prophets before (see 1 Kings 18:4, 13) and history is filled with stories of prophets and martyrs who lost their lives due to faithful service.
Ministry is often a roller-coaster experience of highs and lows that can be emotionally and spiritually draining. Elijah may have hoped his triumph over the prophets of Baal would have been a final and decisive victory that would lead his opposition to stand down. He was clearly unprepared for Jezebel’s response.
We should never just give up in the face of opposition, but there are times when we need to retreat and find help before we will be ready to move forward again.
In a bout of depression, Elijah, one of God’s great prophets, asked God to take his life. Depression and suicidal thoughts can have all kinds of causes, and severe spiritual warfare is just one possible trigger.
Pastors and other Christians should take full advantage of the services of pastoral and professional mental health counselors, and we need to eliminate any stigma associated with seeking such help.
Some of us hear all too often about beloved pastors who have died by suicide. Self-care is necessary if we’re to be effective in caring for those around us.
Fortunately, Elijah left his life in God’s hands, rather than taking it with his own. Wisely, he turned to God in prayer, even if one of despair and resignation, rather than turning away from the Lord in pain, as some are tempted to do.
God is with you; you can take your concerns to Him. (11–14)
God provided Elijah with the rest and physical nourishment that he needed (vv. 5–7) and led the prophet to mount Horeb (where God had met with Moses and given him the Law) and the Lord met him there (v. 8).
There was a windstorm, an earthquake and fire (compare Moses’ experience in Ex. 19:18–19). But the Lord wasn’t in those, and rather than speak in thunder, as He had with Moses (Ex. 19:19), He spoke to His exhausted prophet in a gentle whisper.
When asked what he was doing there, Elijah contrasted himself with the rest of Israel: He has been zealous for the Lord, he says, but the Israelites have attacked God’s covenant, altars and prophets and were seeking to kill Elijah as well.
Elijah feared that the battle for the soul of the nation had been lost. But, crucially, he took his concerns to the Lord, knowing He was the only One who could show the way forward.
Press on with what God has called you to do. (15–18)
God provides Elijah with a new set of orders that indicate that the Lord has not lost nor given up. Relief is on its way, and Elijah has an important role in establishing new leadership for the years to come. And he’s reminded that there are still thousands who remain faithful to the Lord and to the work to which they are called.
We often don’t know God’s future plans for our work or ministry. We plan as best we can and leave the future to the Lord. We are to press on with what God has called us to do, seeking to be faithful and praying that God will raise up more workers for the harvest as well.
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