Lessons From The Life Of Elijah

Dealing With Loneliness & Depression:

Lessons From The Life Of Elijah / Destiny Image.com

We are first introduced to Elijah in the Bible during a time of great apostasy in Israel. King Ahab allowed himself to be ruled by his wicked wife Jezebel. God called Elijah to tell the king that because of his sins it was not going to rain until Elijah said so. That took either chutzpah or tremendous faith, or maybe both.

God had Elijah hide out by the Brook Cherith where God used ravens to bring Elijah his daily rations. Eventually the drought got so bad the brook dried up. God sent Elijah to the home of a kind and faithful widow whose flour and oil miraculously never ran out. After some time, the widow’s son died and Elijah witnessed God raise him from the dead.

Ahab had been sending out search parties to imprison or kill Elijah. All to no avail, they could not find him. After the three and half years of no rain, God called Elijah to return to Ahab and rebuke him again. Ahab was not happy. Ahab put all the blame on the messenger, calling Elijah a troubler of Israel. Elijah corrected the king, telling him it was the king’s sins in forsaking the commandments of God that had caused the troubles. What boldness, what faith, what confidence, what chutzpah.

Elijah told Ahab to call all of Israel and all the king’s pagan prophets to meet him on Mount Carmel. Ahab did what Elijah asked. Elijah spoke to all the people and asked, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21-39). 

Elijah’s story goes from a literal mountaintop experience down to a suicidal desire. Elijah was still depressed and he isolated himself for forty days. Elijah “prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!’” (1 Kings 19:4). Elijah was suicidal, or at least wanted God to take his life; basically he wanted to be dead. 

How did God respond to such a prayer? He sent an angel who gave Elijah some food and let him rest. Then the angel came back again and did the same thing. After resting and eating Elijah journeyed to Mount Horeb, where God had given Moses the Ten Commandments.

When Elijah reached Mount Horeb, he went into a cave and slept overnight. God came to him and asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah was still bitter and presumptuous about how things should be working out. He declared, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (1 Kings 19:10). Notice all the fear and focus on self that Elijah expressed. Elijah had taken his eyes off God and placed them upon himself. He focused on his situation without taking God, or possibly other people, into consideration.

God responded by passing the cave with a strong windstorm, followed by an earthquake, followed by fire. But the Lord was not in any of those. Then God’s still small voice called Elijah, asking again, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:13). Again Elijah responded as before. It seems he had been rehearsing that line over and over again in his mind. A very dangerous practice which is far too common.

Elijah’s rehabilitation included good food, water, rest, exercise, getting him back to the Word of God, reminding him that he was not the only one in the world who had problems, and he was not the only person in the world whom God could use. God also reminded him that God was in charge, not him. The Lord demonstrated to Elijah that He was all powerful, but that God’s powerful demonstrations were not as important in this case as hearing His still small voice. God put Elijah back to work with people who would be an encouragement and help to him, and to whom he could be of help. That is quite a list and a pretty good daily recipe for each of us. ~Lessons From The Life Of Elijah / Destiny Image.com