Let us begin with something of the back story….
Elijah, whose names means ‘Yahweh is my God’ is a major prophet in the Hebrew Scriptures and yet he does not have a book of his words and work like Jeremiah or Isaiah.
His story is to be found in I Kings 17-19 and 2 Kings 1-2 where Elisha picks up Elijah’s mantle.
He prophesised during the time of the divided kingdom, ten tribes to the north, designated as Israel and two tribes to the south designated as Judah.
The Kingdoms had split around 930BC after Rehoboam, Solomon’s successor made some bad choices that the Northern tribes would not accept.
In Judah, their kings are a mixed bag, some atrocious, some good and some bad.
In the north, Israel, their kings are always bad.
This could because if there is one huge no entry sign in the Hebrew Scripture - it is no entry into worshipping idols or any other God but Yahweh.
But in the north, they had a problem – the cultic centre was the Citadel of David, Jerusalem, in the south!
A bit like the days of East and West Germany with East Germany concerned that if people went into the West, they might like it and stay. So, the succession of kings in the north provided alternative places to worship at Bethel and Dan.
And despite their best efforts, or certainly on occasions with active encouragement, they began to worship the local deities and the Baals.
It is during the reign of King Ahab that Elijah pops up almost out of nowhere, although we are told in 1 Kings 17.1 that he was from Tishbe in Gilead. This was around 870 BC.
Ahab compounded the sins of his father, Omri, and went further when he married a Sidonian princess whose name has passed into legend and proverbial folk lore – Jezebel.
Elijah tells the king that there is going to be three-year drought. Elijah then travels south to the east of the Jordan about 100 miles away. Here he is cared for by God who arranges for a raven to bring him food.
After some time the wadi from which he could drink dried up and God instructs him to travel to Zarephath, another 85 miles away.
It is here that he meets and stays with a widow and her son. All are miraculous fed throughout the famine and her son is raised from death by the power of God working through Elijah. (To which Jesus gives reference, Luke 4.26)
From here he journeys back to Jezreel to meet with king Ahab again and from there they travel the 17 miles to Mount Carmel.
This leads into one of the most colourful stories in the Hebrew Scriptures.
The contest between the prophets of Baal, represented by 850 prophets of Baal and Ashera and Elijah - on his own representing Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Moses.
This is the challenge Elijah’s throws down…
‘How long with you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’
(To remind yourself of the story read – I Kings 18)
Like David before Goliath, Yahweh’s servant Elijah prevailed.
Then he prays for rain seven times until his servant reported that a small cloud the size of a man’s fist is rising out of the sea. (Mount Carmel overlooks the Mediterranean.)
He also tells his servant to tell Ahab to get back quickly to Jezreel otherwise he will get caught in the downpour.
Meanwhile Elijah hitches up his cloak and outruns Ahab on his horse and chariot the 17 miles back to Jezreel.
Ahab gets home and tells his wife all that had happened, including the slaughter of all 850 prophets.
Jezebel was not best pleased and sent Elijah a message, ‘So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.’
Elijah, given a commission and spoke boldly to King Ahab, saw Yahweh close the heavens and bring a punishing drought on the land. During which, both he and the widow of Zarephath have enough to eat and her son is brought back to life.
Elijah who had faced down 850 prophets of Baal and Ashera and seen the mighty hand of God accepting the sacrifice he offered.
Then praying for rain to end the drought and ran 17 miles in record time.
What does he do when he hears this threat from Jezebel…?
‘Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah and he left his servant there.’
Heading off and running away another 100 miles south back towards home turf.
From there having left his servant, he travels out alone, another day’s journey into the wilderness of sits under the shade of a broom tree.
Here is this mighty man of God, this outstanding prophet, the one who was to appear to Jesus as representing all the prophets – here he is alone, depressed, and with thoughts of death…
‘He asked that he might die. ‘It is enough now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.’
(We are now in 1 Kings 19.4)
Now I have never experienced and been used of God is such a mighty way as Elijah, however I do know something of this feeling of utter despair.
Following my divorce in 1976 (and if you want to know what that is about check out 1 Corinthians 7: 12-16) I had some very dark moments.
Living in London and working for Church Army in 1979 I had one of those moments through a set of circumstances working through the fall out from the divorce. I received a letter that broke me completely and I found myself walking the streets of London at night in a fog. I remember looking at the dark waters of the Thames and the steps from the Embankment and it looked to me not dark and dangerous be inviting like a cover you could slip under into oblivion and freedom from all the pain and the stress.
‘He asked that he might die. ‘It is enough now, O LORD, take away my life for I am no better than my ancestors.’
Depression is a huge topic we could not even begin to get into a discussion about. However, two aspects of depression are highlighted here, food and sleep. People will either overeat or under eat and sleep long hours or suffer sleep deprivation.
Notice how gently God provides once again and he sleeps and is woken to provision of water and bread delivered by angel.
It’s time to be on the move again, this time to Mount Horeb, 250 miles away across mountainous desert terrain.
On arrival he enters a cave to rest for the night.
Once more the gentleness of God is evidenced.
A question is asked – ‘what are you doing here Elijah?
Is that question a remonstrance or is it seeking to allow Elijah an opportunity to express himself and what it is that is lying at the heart of his depression.
‘It’s good to talk’ – and once we have given voice and expressed our concern it begins to lose some of its power and control.
Then God demonstrates his mighty power in one enormous pyrotechnic show.
Maybe as a little reminder to Elijah of just who he was dealing with!
But the God of the heavenly armies who voice can be like thunder is also the one who seeks to gather chicks under her wing and speaks tenderly with love, care, and compassion.
‘Breathe through the earthquake, wind and fire, o still voice of calm.’
‘…and after the fire, the sound of sheer silence.’
Again, the same question - ‘what are you doing here Elijah?
‘He answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant and thrown down your altars and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life to take it away.’
This is the untruth that had wormed its way into Elijah’s mind and brought him to the point of depression.
We need to guard against lies and untruths entering our mind and destroying our peace.
I alone am left, and they are seeking my life to take it away.’
No, you are not God says, there are seven thousand faithful Israelites that have not bowed the knee to Baal.
And your next task, continues God, is to make some key appointments of my choosing, including your own successor, Elisha. They will carry forward my plans and purposes to expunge the idolatry and evil from the land.
So, from Elijah’s story we learn that it is okay not to be okay. That God does not abandon us and will continue to use us in His purposes and plans.
