“So might the gods do to me, and extra additionally, if I don’t make your life just like the lifetime of one in every of them by this time tomorrow.”
“It’s sufficient; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I’m no higher than my ancestors.”
Background
After Elijah’s victory and the execution of the prophets of Ba’al, Jezebel despatched a message to Elijah. The message is a prayer-vow by which she pledges to kill Elijah inside twenty-four hours, or “so might the gods” do the identical to her. Word that this prayer-vow will not be supplied to indicate devotion to her god(s), or to supply them some service. It’s a self-serving vow pushed by her need for revenge. Although one might argue that she was standing up for her faith, the biblical story presents her as an boastful queen excited about pursuing her personal pursuits at any value.
In Elijah’s response, we see one other aspect of the devoted prophet. He’s scared. He doesn’t pray for steering—he leaves his servant behind and runs a day’s distance away. He sits down beneath a tree and petitions for God to take his life. He should have been fairly scared.
An angel appeared, gave him foods and drinks, and led him on a six-week journey to a cave for shelter. Wealthy with symbolism, this cave is positioned on the identical mountain the place Moses first encountered God. God involves Elijah and asks, “What are you doing right here?” Elijah’s reply is that, regardless of all his laborious work, his ministry has been a failure. “I’m the one devoted one left, so kill me now.”
He’s instructed to go stand on the entrance to the cave. A mighty wind comes up, breaking rocks and hurling timber; an earthquake shakes the mountain; a fireplace ravages its sides. Elijah retreats in concern again into the cave. Although these are conventional symbols of the facility of God, the author tells us that God was in none of these mighty occasions. After these three calamities comes a small, quiet sound.
The change and the silence are sufficient to carry Elijah again out of the cave. God repeats his query, and Elijah repeats his reply. God, with out additional touch upon Elijah’s way of thinking (and placement!), tells him to go to Damascus and anoint Hazael as king of Aram, then to anoint Jehu as king of Israel, after which Elisha as his prophetic successor. He then informs Elijah that there are nonetheless 7,000 in Israel who’re devoted.
Which means
Have you ever ever been so depressed, so despairing, that you just genuinely believed dying could be higher than life? Many people have, and might report that it’s a horrible and darkish place to be. In such a state, our considering turns into unclear, and we’re unable to see the massive image. Not many days earlier than, Elijah was the person of God, standing on a mountain, victorious over tons of of Ba’al prophets. He was protected by God; guided by God, and empowered by God. Now, he was a pitiful baby, huddled beneath a tree, asking God to take his life. He believes his ministry is over, and he may as nicely die.
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