The prophet Elijah was used to seeing God act in big ways. He witnessed God withhold rain from the earth for three and a half years (1 Kings 17:1ff, 18:1ff; cf. James 5:17). He saw God raise a widow’s son from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24). At the end of his time on earth, a chariot and horses of fire appeared, and Elijah was taken by a whirlwind directly into heaven (2 Kings 2:1, 11). A great example of this can be found in 1 Kings 18:20-46, where Elijah witnessed God’s great power over Baal and his prophets at Mt. Carmel. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel ruled over Israel at the time. They were both very wicked and promoted idol worship among the people (1 Kings 16:29-34). Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to prepare an altar and to call on their “god” to set it ablaze; Elijah agreed to do the same (1 Kings 18:22-24). Even though the prophets of Baal cried out with a loud voice from morning until evening, leaped around the altar, and even cut themselves until blood began to gush out (1 Kings 18:25-29), the Bible solemnly reports that “there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention” (1 Kings 18:26, 29). In great boldness, strength, and reliance on God, Elijah cried out to God one time (1 Kings 18:36-37). As a result, God responded in a big, powerful way; sending down fire from heaven, the altar was completely burnt up (1 Kings 18:38) and all of the prophets of Baal were killed (1 Kings 18:40).
When King Ahab reported to Queen Jezebel what had happened (1 Kings 19:1), Jezebel responded by sending a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time” (1 Kings 19:2). Based on how Elijah saw God work and demonstrate His power in amazing ways, when Jezebel threatened to kill him within the next twenty-four hours, how should Elijah have responded? Based on what God had done for him in the past, he should have responded with the same boldness, strength, and reliance that he had when he stood on Mt. Carmel against the prophets of Baal. If God had the power to hold back rain for three and a half years, raise a widow’s son from the dead, and overwhelmingly overcome 450 prophets of Baal, Elijah should have known that God’s power was greater than Queen Jezebel’s and trusted that God was going to continue to take care of him. If God had responded with powerful protection in the past, why wouldn’t He continue to do that in this situation?
We see how Elijah should have responded. How did he actually respond? 1 Kings 19:3-4 reports that he ran for his life, left the country of Israel to flee to the nation of Judah, went by himself a day’s journey into the wilderness, sat under a tree, and prayed that the Lord would take his life. When Elijah encountered a trial in his life, he absolutely hit rock bottom because, in the midst of his pain, he did not think about all of the phenomenal things that God had done for him in the past. He fell into emotion-based thinking instead of logic-based thinking. He allowed his fear and emotions to drive out the memory of what God had done for Him in the past. As a result, instead of remembering, trusting, and triumphing, he spiraled, was hurt, and ran.
As you struggle with trials, does this story have any relevance for you? Maybe your trials have you feeling as if you are running for your life and have caused you to withdraw from everyone around you. Maybe the fear that you have has caused you to spiral out of control and hit rock bottom. Maybe your pain has caused you to fall into a very emotion-based mindset. Maybe you have even asked God to take your life as a result of your pain. Answer this one question: What has God done for you in the past? How have you seen Him work? Have you ever witnessed God do something amazing in your life or in the lives of people who are close to you? Have you seen God do incredible acts in Scripture?
I want to encourage you to remember the unbelievable acts that God performed in Scripture (Psalm 77:11-12). Remember the times in your life that, if it was not for God, you would not have made it (Psalm 124). Don’t allow your fear, emotions, or trials to drive out of your memory of the indescribable things that God has done in the past. If God rescued, protected, and provided for His people in the past, what is going to stop Him from continuing to do that in the present and future? Do you want to triumph over your trials? Consider what God has done.
-Tyler Alverson
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