Elijah pointed at the prophets of Baal. “Surround them. Don’t let any of them get away. Bring them to Kishon.”
The crowd of citizens did what God’s man told them to do after seeing His fire fall from the sky and all it did.
Somebody picked up one of the knives a prophet used to cut himself. He gave it to Elijah.
Baal’s men were lined up along the brook. Elijah slit the throat of each one of them per God’s instructions in the Law.
Elijah’s eyes were wide. “Tell Ahab to eat and drink because I hear the sound of rain.
The crowd dispersed. Elijah and his friend went to the top of Mount Carmel.
Elijah dropped to his knees facing the temple in Jerusalem. “LORD, evil has been abolished in Israel today. Bring life back to Your people.”
He pointed to his friend. “Look to the west. Tell me if you see any clouds.”
His friend ran off to get a clearer view of the Mediterranean Sea.
He came back breathing hard. “There’s nothing, sir.”
Elijah continued his earnest prayer. “LORD, bring rain.”
He looked back at his friend. “Check again.”
This repeated seven times. The last time the friend reported. “I see a cloud, but I can cover it with my hand.”
Elijah stood. “Tell Ahab to get in his chariot and ride home before the rain stops him.”
His friend ran off.
Elijah sent up a prayer of thanksgiving. The evening sun was blotted out by the clouds. Lightning streaked across the sky.
Elijah picked up the bottom of his robe and tucked it in his belt before he ran down Mount Carmel. He passed Ahab’s chariot before they reached Jezreel.
He sat on a bench at the city’s gate.
A few minutes after King Ahab entered the city somebody brought Elijah a note from Queen Jezebel.
May the gods do to me, and more so, if you haven’t become like one of my prophets by this time tomorrow.
Elijah ran away as fast as he could. His friend followed him to Beersheba.
Elijah turned to his friend. “You stay here. I must be alone with the LORD.”
He wandered south for a day before he fell under a tree in exhaustion.
He mouthed one more prayer. “LORD, it’s enough for me. Make me like my fathers before me now.”
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Spiritual warfare is demanding work. It was then. It still is today.
Elijah just stood in the gap for the nation of Israel during a dark time in their history. A drought lasted three years because of a proclamation he made.
It ended after false prophets were killed to end their influence on the people.
Not only was it raining. It was pouring down hard.
You would think God’s man would have been so bold at this time that a note from the queen wouldn’t phase him.
I just heard a professional quarterback tell about a time he spoke at a revival. He felt God tell him to stand up and say something as the altar call was being given by the pastor.
He did it and helped at least three people because of his obedience. He said when he sat back down he felt more drained physically than after his hardest football game.
Chuck Swindoll makes sure his schedule is clear for Sunday afternoons and Mondays for the same reason.
I think if we could see all the spiritual war going on around us we’d be too overwhelmed to get anything done. That’s why we aren’t given a view of that part of creation.
That’s why prayer is such a vital part of any ministry.
Don’t think that your prayer support isn’t being used by God today.
It’s more vital than financial support. Keep interceding.
Any spiritual victory you experience will be met with even more opposition from the enemy and his angels.
Remain on your knees and keep fighting.
Elijah’s battle was epic. Elijah’s victory was huge.
It came at a horrific personal expense to the man.
The Bible says he executed 450 men at the Brook Kishon.
I’m sure God’s Spirit emboldened him to perform this task because of the evil they spread. But, that would be an impossible memory to erase from a person’s memory.
How often did he see their twitching bodies on the ground when he closed his eyes? Did their screams wake him up at night?
So, after the spiritual victory for the nation of Israel, which included murder, he spent time in intense prayer to end the drought. Then Elijah ran from the mountain to the city in heavy rain before he could take a break. Just as the exhaustion was setting in he receives a threatening note from the very evil queen. So he takes off running south out of Israel, through the nation of Judah where he leaves his friend and goes another day south by himself before he rests again. Whew!
If you could have taken a blood sample of the man and sent it off for testing I’m sure his doctor would have prescribed every drug in the books for Elijah.
He was extremely clinically depressed.
This is not a point to be taken lightly.
Depression is real and can have tragic consequences.
Rare are the times someone comes out of it without outside help.
Elijah was by himself now, but he wasn’t alone. We’ll see that next time.
Chemical imbalances take place in the brain. That’s why certain drugs can help.
Emotional shifts occur that can be treated with the right counseling help.
When the depression is bad enough a combination of treatments is best.
If you’ve lost the will to live get help.
Pray for God’s strength to take the next step.
Seek professional guidance from a trained counselor.
Suicide is too permanent an option for what can be a temporary problem.
God still has plans for you, my friend.
He’ll use the new you to help others going through the same trial.
I’ll see you later. Wade
