Finding Rest

In 1 Kings 19 God has just used Elijah to rid Israel of 450 prophets of Baal. They had a theological showdown on Mt. Carmel. A face-off between Dieties. Jehovah -vs- Baal. One prophet of the LORD stood against 450 prophets of Baal. By the time the day was over 450 false prophets lay dead, and there was no doubt in anyone’s mind as to who served the true God. Then Elijah climbed to the top of the mountain and began to pray for rain. When the Lord gave a sign that the rain was coming Elijah sent word to Ahab that the rain was on its way and he’d better get his chariot down off the mountain. He then proceeded to race down the Mt. Carmel on foot, beating the chariot to the bottom. What a day. It surprises us, then, that Elijah flees for his life in the face of  Jezebel’s threats instead of standing up to her and challenging her with her sin, as John the Baptist was to do to Herod, years later. Yet if we stop and think about it, it is not all that surprising. Here is a man physically, spiritually, and emotionally exhausted from perhaps the most trying day of his life. If anyone is in need of rest it is Elijah. What would you do? It seems that Jezebel’s threats were the straw that broke the camel’s back. I think that, like Elijah, we too would have fled for our lives.

 

To me, the big question is not why did Elijah flee, but how will God react? Will he chide him for unbelief? Discipline him for not following through on his victories? Hide from him in disappointment? To me, the amazing thing in this chapter is that there is not one word of correction, not one hint of disapproval, not a single act of discipline. Here we find the God of fire and judgement responding to his prophet in gentleness and understanding, sending an angel to make sure he eats, speaking in a still small voice, gently encouraging and rebuilding a vision for ministry. God is not only a God of anger. He is also a God of rest. It is almost as if He reached several hundred years into the future, took the words that Jesus would speak, and applied them to Elijah, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11) Here was a man who desperately needed rest and the God of rest was there to meet his every need. What kind of rest does God  offer in the midst of times like these, times of heaviness, depression, weariness, and despair? We find Him offering Elijah Physical rest, Spiritual rest, Intellectual rest, and Emotional rest. He offers the same to each of us. “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his” (Heb 4:9-10).

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