1 Kings 19:3-21
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 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.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 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. 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.” 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. There he went into a cave and spent the night.
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.”
And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 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?”
Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
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. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as a prophet.
Elation passes, and Spiritual and physical strain leave Elijah in the grip of depression, fear, and disappointment. Jezebel still holds the whip hand, and Elijah escapes south to the desert and Sinai, drawing fresh strength from the good and drink provided by a practical angel. In the place where God made himself known to Moses, he speaks to Elijah, not in any spectacular way but out of the stillness, Self-pity is dealt with, a sense of proportion restored, and the path ahead mapped out.
Elijah had felt intolerably alone, his work finished. He is given a companion and successor, Elisha. God's work goes on.
Why?
Elijah was not alone, God had reserved seven thousand in Israel.
Elijah was tired of his emotional and spiritual life, so he left and ran away.
Don't be afraid, God is our protector and our savior. We should ask ourselves what are you doing here? Don't waste our life and our time for Jesus is my Lord!
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何烈山是神盼佈律法的地方。
風、地震、烈火都令人害怕的神都不在其中，神在安靜當中向以利亞說話。
神會追討亞哈王的罪。
神告訴以利亞，不是只有他一人。求死就是不想做先知，為何變如此軟弱?退縮?以利亞對服事的成果感到失望！人仍然不悔改呢?為何亞哈沒有貶低耶洗別的地位? 他的期望落空，以為有大榮耀，反而有殺身之禍。明明神藉著他行神蹟，使教會復興，怎麼這一批人質疑他?按人的軟弱、本性，信心一定會受打擊。雖然沒有對神失望，卻對人失望！先知在一場爭戰得勝後。沒有得到預期的成果，所以他軟弱了。求死是不想服事了。我們不比以利亞強，以利亞和摩西一樣抱怨！求主幫助我們遇到這問題可以知道如何面對。
狂風、地震、烈火耶和華不在乎當中，卻在微小聲音當中，情勢不如我們所想，我們要安靜下來才能聽見神的聲音。不要在環境中找神！
神不是只有透過以利亞來管教、追討亞哈王、耶洗別的罪，神要使用其他人在為主工作，不要以為只有以利亞一人扛下。神會算帳，但是不是現在！我們要耐心等候。
以利亞急著想到看到神的作為，負面來看難到沒有一點自己的私心嗎？這是我一個人的功勞！我做我該做的，其他的神會交由其他人完成。
神不是要摩西把功勞一人全攬了，最後由約書亞完成。神要的是合一的群體，不是塑造英雄。各盡其職，成為合一的教會。後來以利亞沒有膏哈薛作王，因為他用私心，認為怎麼去膏外邦人來攻打自己國人。
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How?
Be strong through the Spirit and the word of the Lord!
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