19 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "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." 3 Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you." 8 He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. 9 At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, 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."NRSV
My Comments
I have seen and experienced the Mount Carmel aftermath phenomenon. This is the experience that comes when God has done a great work though you and then there is a backlash that comes against you. It has always seemed odd to me that you could have an awesome victory in God and then feel defeated, afraid or otherwise like a loser when you were just a member of the team that had a great victory.
I have since learned from studying spiritual warfare that this counter attack of Satan is designed to rob you of the victory and to keep you from marching into another victorious battle against Satan and his forces. Remember Satan comes, to kill, steal and destroy. In the counter attack he seeks to either stop you or delay you from the next victory. The solution is to run to a place of solitude with God in worship, prayer and study and meditation on His Word. This will refresh and strengthen you and keep the enemy from taking advantage of you during the post victory recuperation period. Without knowing it, Satan actually helps us to remember it is God who brings the victory and causes us to run to God for renewal and to get God’s plan for the next battle.
Remember with God you are never alone. In addition God has strategically placed His people so that when the time is right they will run into the battle with you. They are either in battle or being prepared even when we do not know about them. Trust Him to be your resource and he will provide all that is needed in resources and people when the time is right. Are you seeking God for the renewal and in preparation of the battle?
Richard Foster in, “A Year With God,” made the following observations.
Once again Elijah goes into the wilderness for refuge. Elijah wasn’t necessarily trying to find God; he fled because he was afraid. But even in Elijah’s running away, God met him in his solitude. Elijah lived a fantastic life, seeing God’s might firsthand as few others have. Yet even Elijah needed times of solitude, where God could meet him alone, giving refreshment and guidance.
Have you ever sought solitude for a reason other than trying to meet God and had an experience of God anyway? What is it about being alone that allows God to come to us more easily?
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