Men of the Old Testament: Elijah If we are not careful our perception of Biblical characters can become oversized. Men and women who were fallible champions of the faith, can become almost perfect heroes who wore red capes, sang hymns, and quoted proverbs in their sleep. These misperceptions of the people that grace the Bible’s pages can lead us to neglect to learn the lessons we should from them.
Take the mighty prophet Elijah for example. He enters the stage of the Holy Scriptures in dramatic fashion. He is the good to the bad of wicked King Ahab and the deplorable Queen Jezebel. Just look at how 1 Kings 16:29-34 describes these pitiful rulers:
“In the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri’s son Ahab became king over Israel. Ahab son of Omri ruled over Israel for twenty-two years in Samaria. Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the sight of the Lord than all who were before him. As if following in the sinful footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not bad enough, he married Jezebel the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians. Then he worshiped and bowed to Baal. He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal he had built in Samaria. Ahab also made an Asherah pole; he did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him. During Ahab’s reign, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. Abiram, his firstborn son, died when he laid the foundation; Segub, his youngest son, died when he erected its gates, just as the Lord had warned through Joshua son of Nun.”
Elijah’s antagonist is the man who, “did more evil in the sight of the Lord than all who were before him,” and his wife was even worse! How could you not admire a man who had the guts to stand up to, and defy those wicked people?
There is much about Elijah to admire, but we cannot learn anything from Elijah if we do not walk with him through his life’s valleys as well as the mountaintops. After one of the greatest and most visible victories for the cause of good in his time in 1 Kings 18, 1 Kings 19 finds Elijah running for his life, scared, discouraged and alone. Fear and frustration have replaced courage. Pity has replaced confidence. Depression has replaced reality. In just a few short moments Elijah seems to be a shell of his former self. Listen to the description by theologian A.W. Pink:
“In passing from 1 Kings 18 to 1 Kings 19 we meet with a sudden and strange transition. It is as though the sun was shining brilliantly out of a clear sky and the next moment, without any warning, black clouds drape the heavens and crashes of thunder shake the earth. The contrasts presented by these chapters are sharp and startling. At the close of the one "the hand of the Lord was on Elijah" as he ran before Ahab’s chariot: at the beginning of the other he is occupied with self and "went for his life." In the former we behold the prophet at his best: in the latter we see him at his worst. There he was strong in faith and the helper of his people: here he is filled with fear and is the deserter of his nation. In the one he confronts the four hundred prophets of Baal undaunted: in the other he flees panic-stricken from the threats of one woman. From the mountain top he betakes himself into the wilderness, and from supplicating Jehovah that He would vindicate and glorify His great name to begging Him to take away his life. Who would have imagined such a tragic sequel?”
Elijah’s wilderness has as much to teach us as his mighty victories. Don’t skip over 1 Kings 19 just to read about the victories. Sit down, reflect, and spend some time with Elijah in the black clouds. Odds are you will learn more with him there than you will on the mountaintops.
Questions for Discussion/Reflection
1. Why do you think the death threat frightened Elijah so much?
2. What can God’s interaction with Elijah teach us about God?
3. What can Elijah’s actions in this passage teach us about ourselves?
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