A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

times before his servant saw a small cloud begin to rise out of the sea. Very soon thereafter, “the
sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain” (v. 45).
ELIJAH AND HIS FLIGHT TO SINAI
(1 Kings 19)
Ahab could not help but be impressed after what he had seen that day at Mount Carmel.
When he returned to Jezreel, he excitedly told his wife Jezebel all that had transpired on the
mountain. But Jezebel was not as enthusiastic as her husband when she learned her prophets had
been killed. She sent a personal message to Elijah that adequately expressed her feelings. “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). When Elijah heard the message, he demonstrated the
truth of the New Testament claim that he was just like us—and he ran.
He ran from Israel to Judah (the protection of another kingdom) and went as far south in
Judah as he could go. Then, leaving his servant in Judah, he continued to run south into the
wilderness until he dropped exhausted under a tree. He prayed that God would take his life and
let him die, and then he fell asleep. He was awakened from his sleep by an angel who fed him
bread and water. Elijah ate the meal and then fell asleep again. A second time the angel
awakened him and fed him. This time the angel told him he had a long journey ahead of him.
Elijah did not know it at the time, but it would be forty days before he would again taste food.
Elijah continued his journey south until he came to one of the most sacred spots in the
history of God and His dealings with His people-the mountain of God, Sinai. There he hid
himself in a cave until he heard from God. When God spoke, He asked his prophet a question.
“What are you doing here, Elijah?” (v. 9)
Elijah answered the question but failed to identify the real reason he was in the cave. He
claimed to be the sole surviving faithful believer in Israel. God told him there were at least 7,000
in Israel who had not been involved in the worship of Baal. The real reason Elijah was there
hiding in the cave was due to his depression. Jezebel’s threat against his life had sent him into a
cycle of self-pity. To break this depression, Elijah needed a change of focus and a change of
attitude. God directed the prophet to stand on the mountain peak.
As Elijah stood on the pinnacle, the Lord passed by him. First, there was a mighty wind
that tore into the mountain, setting loose large boulders from the crevice of the hillside. That was
followed by a massive earthquake which shook the very mountain on which he stood. After the
earthquake there was fire. Yet in all these phenomena of raw power, the Lord was absent. Only
then did the Lord make His presence known in a still small voice asking again that haunting
question, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (v. 13)
God had things for Elijah to do and could not afford to have a discouraged prophet
standing on a mountain feeling sorry for himself. God commanded him to anoint Hazael king
over Syria and anoint Jehu king of Israel. God told Elijah He would replace him with another,
and Elijah was to anoint Elisha to serve in this role.
Departing from the mountain, Elijah found Elisha plowing in the field with twelve yoke
of oxen. When young Elisha realized he was being called to follow Elijah, he first asked to return
home to say good-bye to his parents. But that was not characteristic of the kind of commitment
required of a prophet of the Lord. Realizing this, Elisha took a yoke of oxen and offered it as a
sacrifice to Jehovah. In this symbolic act, the would-be successor to Elijah was burning his
bridges behind him and wholeheartedly embarking on a life of service to a single master.