You May Not Resign!

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Opening Prayer

Mighty and Gentle Creator, when I wonder if the details of my life are important to You, I remember how You clothe the flowers.

Read 1 KINGS 19:1-21

^[1] Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. ^[2] So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” ^[3] Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ^[4] while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” ^[5] Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ^[6] He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. ^[7] The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” ^[8] So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. ^[9] There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ^[10] He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” ^[11] The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ^[12] After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ^[13] When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ^[14] He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” ^[15] The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. ^[16] Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. ^[17] Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. ^[18] Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel-all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” ^[19] So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. ^[20] Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” ^[21] So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

Meditate

There will be times when peace departs, troubles mount and prayers seem unanswered. Then is the time to remember–God will never disappoint us!

Think Further

As so often, there are puzzles in this story–but I leave them aside. The repeated question (9,13) gets the same word-perfect (but incorrect) answer (10,14), so what was the theophany (11-13) for? Did Elijah see it, because he doesn’t seem to get outside the cave until verse 13? What did Elijah’s reply to Elisha (20b) actually mean? Is this story really about Elijah’s resignation? He did not actually carry out any of the three anointings (at least we are not told he did).

I reflect on the resonances between the story of Elijah and that of Moses–the despair (Num. 11:15), Horeb, the 40 days and nights, the cave or rock-cleft, the revelation, the hidden face, the (re)commissioning. I analyze for myself the ingredients of Elijah’s distress–emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual. I marvel at the gentleness of God’s therapy–the sleep, food and drink; the recall to the roots of Israel’s covenant and faith and mission; and the quiet, repeated question (distressed people don’t always hear you the first time). In fact, God calls Elijah to hard and ominous tasks (“Hazael” and “Jehu” are words with a threatening sound to the readers of Kings), but he also provides Elisha, a colleague and assistant.

It would appear that Elijah was the greatest prophet between Moses and John the Baptist. I finish my meditation by reflecting on two New Testament passages. In the transfiguration story (Matt. 17:1-13) not only does Elijah appear with Moses, but Jesus specifically refers to how John the Baptist had been treated in an Elijah-like way (see also Mal. 4:5). Romans 11 starts with two questions: “Has God repudiated his people?” and “Have they fallen to rise no more?” The answer to both is, “Absolutely not!” From Paul’s own story and Elijah’s story it is clear: there is a remnant chosen by grace.

Apply

Who do you know to be depressed, thinking of resigning, inclined to give up, exhausted? What can you do to minister encouragement to them?

Closing prayer

Faithful God, what a joy it is to know that You never let me down, never let me go, never give up on me. I feel the infusion of strength this knowledge brings.

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