1 Kings 19:1-8 – Operate out of rest in the Lord

First Kings 19:1-8 describe for us a discouraged Elijah. Verse 1 said that Ahab returned home and narrated to Jezebel, his wife, what took place at Mount Carmel. In one fell swoop, Elijah destroyed all the prophets of Baal by the sword. Angered by what she heard, Jezebel sent a message to Elijah. Swearing by her gods, she threatened to do to Elijah the same way he had killed the prophets of Baal. She even stipulated that it would be done by the same time the next day. Elijah had no reason to doubt her threat. She was known for killing the prophets of God (1 Kings 18:4 & 13.) Besides, she had the guts that Ahab lacked. On hearing her threat, Elijah was petrified and ran and hide. He first went to Beersheba in Judah and left his servant there, while he himself went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. There he rested underneath a juniper tree and entertained a death wish. He asked God to take his life.  

What was the cause of his doldrum? Didn’t the Covenant God of Israel come through for him at Mount Carmel? How could he feel so intimidated by Jezebel despite experiencing such a mighty victory at Mount Carmel? As people called to serve God, we need to serve Him out of rest. Remember what the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30. He invites us to rest in Him saying, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” If we are not operating out of rest, we will easily succumb to discouragement in our weariness.

This was attested to by what happened to him after he had rested. God renewed his faith and fed him supernaturally. If we want to be strengthened for effective ministry, we need to come away and rest in the Lord. As we set time to rest in Him, we will be fed supernaturally and spiritually in His presence. Like Elijah, we need to come to Horeb, the mountain of God. We need to know that God often works in ways we least expect. And just because God doesn’t do things our ways is no indication that He is not working. Remember His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. In ministry, we must operate out of rest and not restlessness. He promises to sustain us, and He certainly will!