Sometimes our greatest disappointments follow what we thought would be our greatest triumphs. In the previous chapter, God answered Elijah’s prayers, demonstrating His power so clearly by consuming a sacrifice with fire from Heaven. At the same time the prayers of the prophets of Baal had no effect at all, revealing them to be the charlatans they were. After such a trial on Mount Carmel, it should have been obvious to everyone that Baal was fake. Immediately after this, Elijah prayed to God and God sent rain on the land, ending a long-term drought that Elijah had also predicted. The verdict was clear – God was really in charge of the weather, not Baal, the so-called “storm-god.”

After he presented such clear and compelling evidence, Elijah had reason to hope that a great revival would sweep the country, and that people would turn away from Baal and back to God. Instead, Queen Jezebel’s reaction was to try to kill Elijah. Instead of a religious hero of the people, he became a marked man. No wonder he was so disappointed that he wanted to die.

But into this disappointment, notice how God cares for Elijah. God provides water and bread for him in the desert, just as He had done for the people of Israel during their wilderness wanderings. And when God finally spoke to Elijah on Mt. Horeb, it was in a still, small voice, not in a hurricane or an earthquake or fire. God thus showed Elijah that it wouldn’t be in dramatic, supernatural displays like the one on Mt. Carmel that He would reveal Himself most clearly to humanity. It wouldn’t be impressive miracles like beginning or ending a drought that would draw people to Himself, convincing them of His power and goodness.

No, it would be through One Who would be just as despised and rejected as Elijah was, One Whom all the religious and political leaders of His time would put to death. And Jesus still calls all those who follow Him, not to a life of popularity and success, but a life of trusting in God to provide our daily needs. He calls us not to despair or become discouraged at the sin all around us, but to listen to God’s still, small voice, and then to proclaim His love and His truth however we can, patiently showing and sharing the love of Christ to those we will meet today.

I Kings 19:3-9 (ESV)

3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.”
6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again.
7 And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”
8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”