INTRODUCTION: Elijah had just enjoyed one of the greatest victories in the Bible record. He follows it up with a great defeat. We must learn of our vulnerability at such times and prepare for the battle after the victory.
I. THE TRIAL OF FAITH (19:1-3; 1Peter 1:6-7)
A. The Threats of Jezebel (19:1-2)
1. Jezebel received the news of the slain prophets (v.1)
2. Jezebel promised to take the life of Elijah (v.2)
a. She swore on her gods
b. She promised to make Elijah like the slain prophets
c. She promised to do it by tomorrow about this time
d. NOTE: People do not take it well to having their gods attacked.
B. The Flight of Elijah (19:3)
1. He fled for his life
2. He left his servant in Beersheba (he was going south)
II. THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR (19:4-10)
A. Elijah’s Wish to Die (19:4)
1. Elijah found a hiding place
a. A day’s journey into the wilderness
b. He sat down under a juniper tree
2. Elijah asked that his life might end
3. NOTE: At least seven men in the Bible at one time wished to die; Paul was the only one who was not feeling sorry for himself at the time.
a. Job (Job 3:3-11)
b. Moses (Numbers 11:15)
c. Solomon (Ecclesiastes 2:17)
d. Elijah (1Kings 19:4)
e. Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:14-18)
f. Jonah (Jonah 4:3, 8)
g. Paul (Philippians 1:21-24)
B. Elijah’s Attempt to Quit (19:5-8)
1. The awakening of the angel (19:5)
2. The meal provided by the angel (19:6)
3. The second meal of the angel (19:7)
4. The commission of Elijah (19:8)
a. He went in the strength of the meat of the Lord
b. He went for forty days and forty nights (a number which deals with times of testing)
c. He went to Mount Horeb; another name for Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:1, 12; Malachi 4:4)
C. Elijah’s Complaint to God (19:9-10)
1. Elijah lodged in a cave (v.9)
2. God asked him, What doest thou here, Elijah? (v.9)
a. The word of the Lord came to him
b. God seems to be asking Elijah how he got to this place in his ministry. This is a good question for all of us at times in our life.
c. God repeats this question in verse 13.
3. Elijah declared his situation (v.10)
a. He has been very jealous for the Lord
b. Israel has forsaken God’s covenant
c. Elijah is the only faithful prophet remaining
d. Now they seek to take his life
III. THE VOICE OF GOD (19:11-18)
A. A Display of Power (19:11-12)
1. A great strong wind (v.11)
2. An earthquake (v.11)
3. A fire (v.12)
4. But God was not in any of them
B. A Small Still Voice (19:12-13)
1. It came after the displays of power (v.12)
2. It called Elijah out of his cave (v.13)
3. It asked him what he was doing here (v.13)
C. A Renewed Commission (19:14-17)
1. Elijah holds to his defeated attitude (v.14)
2. To anoint Hazael to be king over Syria (v.15)
3. To anoint Jehu to be king over Israel (v.16)
4. To anoint Elisha to be prophet in Elijah’s place (v.16)
5. To give victory over the house of Ahab (v.17)
a. By Hazael
b. By Jehu
c. By Elisha
6. NOTE: Elijah continued to minister, but his role is diminished. It seems that he lost the confidence of God. We should be careful not to refuse to serve God in the role he has placed us.
D. A Revealed Remnant (19:18) – 7,000 that have not bowed to Baal
IV. THE CALL OF ELISHA (19:19-21)
A. Elijah Found Elisha (19:19)
1. He was plowing with oxen; Note: God calls busy men
2. He was plowing with the twelfth oxen
3. Elijah cast his mantle on him
B. Elisha Followed Elijah (19:20-21)
1. He requested to go back to kiss his parents (v.20)
2. He slew a toke of oxen and served a feast (v.21); he cut off the ties to his old life
3. He went after Elijah and ministered unto him (v.21; 2Kings 3:11)
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