Question for one of the Elijahs

[littlelight]

1 Kings 19 is an interresting story in the life of Elijah. With so many Elijahs on the board I thought one of them might be able to answer God's question.

1 Kings 19:9
9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
NKJV

So what was Elijah doing there? And give a reason why you think you have the right answer.

 

[elijah23]

1 Kings 19 is an interresting story in the life of Elijah. With so many Elijahs on the board I thought one of them might be able to answer God's question.

1 Kings 19:9
9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
NKJV

So what was Elijah doing there? And give a reason why you think you have the right answer.

I don’t remember. You tell me.

 

[littlelight]

I don’t remember. You tell me.

I have 11 different commentaries and none of them attempt to answer it. Some say God might have been reproving Elijah for running from Jezebel. I dont believe that.

It has always amazed me that after Elijah faced down 800 of the enemy that he would run from one woman.

I do know that Elijah did not give the right answer. I have an answer that I think is correct and it fits the situation.

I would think that people who by their Christian forum name imply an identification with Elijah would have an idea. But it doesn't have to be an Elijah that answers. I will wait to see if anyone has a better answer than mine. If not then this post might just fade off without comming any closer to an answer than the commentaries.

 

[Alabaster]

Elijah was suffering what we today would be called depression. He needed rest and succouring, which he received at the hand of God Himself and His ministering angels. He had just come from performing a mighty exploit for God, and had spent all his energy in it, and when Jezebel threatened him, he had no reserve, and ran for seclusion.

This is often the case with many of us who have been used mightily by God...we come into moments of exhaustion, and the enemy can and will intimidate. Running to a place of seclusion and safety is our first response. God will meet us there and draw us out, as He did with Elijah.

 

[littlelight]

Elijah was suffering what we today would be called depression. He needed rest and succouring, which he received at the hand of God Himself and His ministering angels. He had just come from performing a mighty exploit for God, and had spent all his energy in it, and when Jezebel threatened him, he had no reserve, and ran for seclusion.

This is often the case with many of us who have been used mightily by God...we come into moments of exhaustion, and the enemy can and will intimidate. Running to a place of seclusion and safety is our first response. God will meet us there and draw us out, as He did with Elijah.

I would agree on his suffering from but I thought it might be burnout. However, I would not quibble with depression. He was in very low spirits because of Israels rejection of God and their idol worship. He was in need of God's confort.

But, I do not think that is the answer to God's question. God was trying to comfort him by showing him why he was there.

 

[handy]

Elijah was suffering what we today would be called depression. He needed rest and succouring, which he received at the hand of God Himself and His ministering angels. He had just come from performing a mighty exploit for God, and had spent all his energy in it, and when Jezebel threatened him, he had no reserve, and ran for seclusion.

This is often the case with many of us who have been used mightily by God...we come into moments of exhaustion, and the enemy can and will intimidate. Running to a place of seclusion and safety is our first response. God will meet us there and draw us out, as He did with Elijah.

Yeah, what she said!

I'll only add that I'm glad that the Holy Spirit included in the Scriptures these times when our mighty men of faith were brought low...times like this time with Elijah, or when Peter denied Christ because it shows how mere fallible humans like...well, me for instance...can be used mightily by God. It would be easy to believe that Elijah or Peter or David were supermen, but they weren't. They were guys who bled when they were cut, just like everybody else. But, they were guys who still obeyed God. To me, this is very encouraging.

 

[Elijah674]

1 Kings 19 is an interresting story in the life of Elijah. With so many Elijahs on the board I thought one of them might be able to answer God's question.

1 Kings 19:9
9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
NKJV

So what was Elijah doing there? And give a reason why you think you have the right answer.

1Kgs.19
[1] And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
[2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

[3] And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
[4] But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
[5] And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
[6] And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
[7] And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
[8] And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

[9] And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

[10] And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.


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Me here 674.

OK: It seems to me to be clear enough! Elijah (all of them + the Apostles! and John the Baptist in the spirit of Elijah) were & are 'men subject to like passions' (Acts 14:15, James 5:17) with there up & downs.
And as you read on you find that God had more for him to do. And hiding was not one of them.

*************************************************

[11] And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
[12] And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
[13] And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

[14] And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

[15] And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
[16] And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
[17] And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
[18] Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
[19] So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
[20] And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
[21] And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

 

[littlelight]

*************************************************[/COLOR]
Me here 674.

OK: It seems to me to be clear enough! Elijah (all of them + the Apostles! and John the Baptist in the spirit of Elijah) were & are 'men subject to like passions' (Acts 14:15, James 5:17) with there up & downs.
And as you read on you find that God had more for him to do. And hiding was not one of them.

*************************************************

Alabaster and 674

Thanks to all who have replied. It did sound like maybe I was trying to set people up to look bad. That was not my intention. I do not know that I have the right answer but I am feel comfortable with my answer.

You both may be right but to me it does not fit with the information contained between 1kings 19:9 and 1kings 19:13. To me this looks like a standard teaching technic. Ask a Question and if you get a wrong answer give an example or do a demonstration to led the student to the right answer. Then ask the question again in hopes that the studient will see his mistake and then be able to give the right answer. If I am right then the answer can be deduced from the info contained between 19:9 and 19:13.

 

[Alabaster]

It appears you have another answer you are looking for, littlelight. What is it? Indeed, Elijah did suffer burnout. Depression is another name for it. Often after we have been used mightily by God, we have a let-down period which is a sort of valley experience. It serves to help us reflect and recharge. It can go further into a depressive state, and I believe that is what happened to Elijah, who experienced the power of God on a grand scale, and then suffered a serious threat to his life by Jezebel.

Going from one extreme to another can cause a lot of consternation in a person.

 

[littlelight]

It appears you have another answer you are looking for, littlelight. What is it? Indeed, Elijah did suffer burnout. Depression is another name for it. Often after we have been used mightily by God, we have a let-down period which is a sort of valley experience. It serves to help us reflect and recharge. It can go further into a depressive state, and I believe that is what happened to Elijah, who experienced the power of God on a grand scale, and then suffered a serious threat to his life by Jezebel.

Going from one extreme to another can cause a lot of consternation in a person.

As I said God was trying get him to answer his question which would get him back on track. He was not there because of his reason. He was zealous for the Lord but that was not why he was there. Most of the children of Israel had forsaken the Lord but that was not why he was there. He was not the only one left. The reasons he gave had helped cause his problem. If he could answer God's question right he would have seen his problem. He would see why he had ran from Jezebel.

He was there because he could hear God's still small voice. God did not have to shout Elijah. He heard and obeyed God's still small voice. He was also supposed to be God's still small voice. Elijah had forgotten that it was not his responsibility to change Israel. All he had to do was carry God's message. When we start doing things in our own power we will go into burnout.

That is what I think God wanted to show Elijah.

 

[Alabaster]

As I said God was trying get him to answer his question which would get him back on track. He was not there because of his reason. He was zealous for the Lord but that was not why he was there. Most of the children of Israel had forsaken the Lord but that was not why he was there. He was not the only one left. The reasons he gave had helped cause his problem. If he could answer God's question right he would have seen his problem. He would see why he had ran from Jezebel.

He was there because he could hear God's still small voice. God did not have to shout Elijah. He heard and obeyed God's still small voice. He was also supposed to be God's still small voice. Elijah had forgotten that it was not his responsibility to change Israel. All he had to do was carry God's message. When we start doing things in our own power we will go into burnout.

That is what I think God wanted to show Elijah.

What you have discerned is good and can be added to what has already been said. Good job!

 

[cyberjosh]

Your question, and your own proposed answer, is very interesting. I was reading this passage just the other day in fact. Now your question has me deep in thought about what Elijah's motivations were and also what God's actions w/ the earthquake, etc. symbolized or were meant to convey. I will have to ponder this more. It is interesting though that Elijah thought himself "no better than his fathers" (which further begs the question of whether his "fathers" were godly or ungodly predecessors), and also interesting that he asked God to take his life when the very reason for him fleeing was to prevent his life being taken by Jezebel. Elijah was very discouraged about something in his ministry.

I shall think on these things further...

~Josh

 

[Elijah674]

Alabaster and 674

Thanks to all who have replied. It did sound like maybe I was trying to set people up to look bad. That was not my intention. I do not know that I have the right answer but I am feel comfortable with my answer.

You both may be right but to me it does not fit with the information contained between 1kings 19:9 and 1kings 19:13. To me this looks like a standard teaching technic. Ask a Question and if you get a wrong answer give an example or do a demonstration to led the student to the right answer. Then ask the question again in hopes that the studient will see his mistake and then be able to give the right answer. If I am right then the answer can be deduced from the info contained between 19:9 and 19:13.

Hi, I didn't think that 'i' was being set up at all. If you are the Lord's servant, then you surely can relate to your walk in life, perhaps not as Noah's preaching for 120 years with hardly no results? Then what did he do after he left the Ark? Surely he felt that the few 'results' were because of his FAILURE?

And Elijah??? He told God that he alone was left, right? And it seemed that God told him that HE HAD RESERVED 7000 who had not bowed the knee to satan? (bottom/line)

And us'ins?? Surely we need the Words of our Master as seen in Matt. 10:25, huh? (many times!) And I don't question Elijah taking some precautions, or is [not knowing God will, sin??] It is just that we surely are to ask what the Lord's will is it seems to me. Many times we need to act promptly & wisely & to not be presumptuously tempting God, or running ahead of Him! And a good case in point was David fleeing Sauls spear. (3 times??)

Yet, as stated before, the REAL CHRISTIAN men of God even, were not without mistakes!

--Elijah