Elijah ran in fear for his life, but God gave him rest and recommissioned him for total victory. 1 Kings 19:15-17
Elijah had confronted and destroyed the prophets of Baal (450) and Asherah (400) before the people on Mt Carmel. However, the enemy was furious and through Jezebel, the wife of king Ahab, swore to murder God’s prophet, Elijah. Elijah fled to Mt Horeb with angelic help, for the long journey. There he met with God and was recommissioned by Him to continue the next phase of the battle against idolatry in Israel. Elijah was told to, ‘Go back the way you came’. God doesn’t often tell us to go back! Elijah had abandoned the battle before it was completed and God wanted total, not partial, victory.
Is God speaking to someone today? Maybe we’ve left something incomplete, walked away from the battle before God said ‘Its Finished’. Jesus spoke that word on the cross, John 19:30 He knew He’d fulfilled His calling on earth. The good news in the account of Elijah was that God sent him help. Elijah believed he was the only one standing for God among God’s people, but he wasn’t.
15 The Lord said to him, ‘Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 1 Kings 19
God told Elijah to anoint two men as Kings and Elisha to succeed him as prophet in Israel. God also told Elijah that there were others in Israel who hadn’t bowed the knee to Baal;
18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.’ 1 Kings 19
The enemy always wants to isolate us and make us think we’re all alone in our struggles, but remember God sent an angel to strengthen Elijah. Elijah had stood alone for a time as God’s prophet to the people, but after Jezebel’s threats, God took him aside and restored him. Don’t become discouraged if you’ve had to withdraw from the battle for a time of respite. God understands and He can strengthen us again and lead us forward to final victory. He may well draw others alongside to support and encourage us to complete the battle.
In God’s time it was Elijah who pronounced Jezebel’s end at the hand of Jehu, son of Nimshi. 1 Kings 21:23 The very man God had told him to anoint as king over Israel sealed her fate.
May God strengthen us to see the battles we face through to complete victory in our Lord.
God bless and keep you today.