After the excitement of 1 Kings 18: fire from God, massacre of 450 prophets of Baal, RAIN!, Elijah is so energized he outruns Ahab to Jezreel:

Things happened fast. The sky grew black with wind-driven clouds, and then a huge cloudburst of rain, with Ahab hightailing it in his chariot for Jezreel. And GOD strengthened Elijah mightily. Pulling up his robe and tying it around his waist, Elijah ran in front of Ahab’s chariot until they reached Jezreel. (1 Kings 18.45, 46, MSG)

Mt Carmel to Jezreel is about 16 miles according to Google Maps. But no rest…

Ahab reported to Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, including the massacre of the prophets. Jezebel immediately sent a messenger to Elijah with her threat: “The gods will get you for this and I’ll get even with you! By this time tomorrow you’ll be as dead as any one of those prophets.” When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life to Beersheba, far in the south of Judah [another 110 miles!]. He left his young servant there  and then went on into the desert another day’s journey. He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all—to just die: “Enough of this, GOD! Take my life—I’m ready to join my ancestors in the grave!” (1 Kings 19.1 – 4, MSG)

The guy who stood up the king twice and then to 450 prophets of Baal runs for his life when threatened by Jezebel and just wants to die.

First treatment? Rest and food:

Exhausted, he fell asleep under the lone broom bush. Suddenly an angel shook him awake and said, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and, to his surprise, right by his head were a loaf of bread baked on some coals and a jug of water. He ate the meal and went back to sleep. The angel of GOD came back, shook him awake again, and said, “Get up and eat some more—you’ve got a long journey ahead of you.” He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep. (1 Kings 19.5 – 9, MSG)

Then twice we have this exchange:

Then the word of GOD came to him: “So Elijah, what are you doing here?”

“I’ve been working my heart out for the GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies,” said Elijah. “The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me.” (1 Kings 19.9 – 10, 13 – 14, MSG)

In between those two exchanges is the well-known “how does God appear?” section:

Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before GOD. GOD will pass by.” A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before GOD, but GOD wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but GOD wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but GOD wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. (1 Kings 19.11 – 12, MSG)

God was not in the wind or the earthquake or the fire. Don’t miss God’s quiet voice while distracted by the spectacular! “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46.10)

Back to Elijah: Afraid. Depressed. Poor me. The cure?

GOD said, “Go…

• anoint Hazael; make him king over Aram. Then
• anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him king over Israel. Finally,
• anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet…

Meanwhile, I’m preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that haven’t bowed to the god Baal, the mouths that haven’t kissed his image.” (1 Kings 19.15 – 18, MSG, bulleted for clarity)

Often the cure for fear or depression is action. “Go…anoint Hazael… Jehu… Elisha….” And, by the way, you’re not the only one. In fact, as Skip Gray used to say, you’re number 7001!

There was a disciple in Damascus by the name of Ananias. The Master spoke to him in a vision: “Ananias.” “Yes, Master?” he answered. “Get up and go over to Straight Avenue. Ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus. His name is Saul. He’s there praying. He has just had a dream in which he saw a man named Ananias enter the house and lay hands on him so he could see again.”

Ananias protested, “Master, you can’t be serious. Everybody’s talking about this man and the terrible things he’s been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he’s shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us.”

But the Master said, “Don’t argue. Go!” (Acts 9.10 – 15, MSG)