On Mount Horeb: Trusting the God that Provides

1 Kings 19:4-18

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.[a] 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

In Context: The current situation:
Ahab is the current king, wicked in the eyes of God, ruling Israel alongside his powerful wife Jezebel who influences him to erect altars to their god Baal and persecute the prophets of God.

Elijah, as a prophet of God, approaches Ahab and tells him to meet him for the ultimate throw down at the base of Mt Carmel with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. To these prophets, Elijah challenges them to pray to their gods to burn an offering. When they are unable to, Elijah has his own altar to God drenched 3x over with water and when he prays to God, a pillar of fire burns the offering AND the entire altar. He then orders the people of Israel that were witnessing all of this to kill all of the prophets of Baal and Asherah.

To Elijah’s surprise, Jezebel unfortunately doesn’t realize the error of her ways and threatens to kill him on sight. So, Elijah runs. This specific passage details Elijah’s physical and emotional journey, battling key emotions of loneliness, depression, and hopelessness.

What is God’s Response to Elijah?
God did not discount his pain or what he was going through. God treated him tenderly.

God feeds Elijah and gives him rest. He gives him physical replenishment. Sometimes it can feel like we are completely emptied but God shows here how he can fill us up, not just spiritually but physically.

Verse 6-8: And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

Discussion Question: How has God taken care of your physical needs in the past?

God reminds Elijah that he is there and listening. He asks Elijah not once but twice, “what are you doing here Elijah”. ‘What’s going on? What is troubling you?’ And God, our all-knowing God, He obviously knows exactly what is going on but he waits for Elijah to open up and unload everything he is feeling on him.
Verse 11-12: And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

Discussion Question: When was the last time you had an open conversation with God? Where you are in your ministry, personal life, and in church?

God asks Elijah to continue to trust him and His plan. God gives him a reminder that His plan is still ongoing. He instructs Elijah to go back and finish his ministry. He lets Elijah know that he is NOT alone by encouraging him to look not inwardly but outwardly – that there are 7,000 people yet in Israel that have not bowed the knee to Baal and also another prophet that God is planning to use for his plan (Elisha). Suddenly its not 1 against the world.

Verse 15-18: And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Discussion Question: How has God placed resources and support around you in your darkest spiritual moments?