YOU’RE NOT ALONE

“So great to see you!” “You, too!” “So glad you’re here!” The greetings were warm and welcoming. Members of a ministry in Southern California gathered online before their evening program. As their speaker, calling in from Colorado, I watched silently as the others gathered on the video call. As an introvert and not knowing anyone, I felt like a social outsider. Then suddenly, a screen opened and there was my pastor. Then another screen opened. A longtime church friend was joining the call, too. Seeing them, I no longer felt alone. God, it seemed, had sent support.

Elijah wasn’t alone either, despite feeling like “the only [prophet] left” after fleeing the wrath of Jezebel and Ahab (1 Kings 19:10). Journeying through desert wilderness for forty days and forty nights, Elijah hid in a cave on Mount Horeb. But God called him back into service, telling him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet” (vv. 15–16).

God then assured him, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him” (v. 18). As Elijah learned, while serving God we don’t serve alone. As God brings help, we’ll serve together.

Read: 1 Kings 19:8-11, 15-18 (NIV)

8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty^j days and forty nights

until he reached Horeb,^k the mountain of God. 

9 There he went into a cave^l and spent the night.

The Lord Appears to Elijah

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”^m

10 He replied, “I have been very zealousⁿ for the Lord God Almighty.

The Israelites have rejected your covenant,^o torn down your altars,^p 

and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left,^q and now they are trying to kill me too.”

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain^r in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”^s

Then a great and powerful wind^t tore the mountains apart and shattered^u 

the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.

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^z king over Aram. 

16 Also, anoint^a Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha^b son of Shaphat

from Abel Meholah^c to succeed you as prophet. 

17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael,^d 

and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.^e 

18 Yet I reserve^f seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal

and whose mouths have not kissed^g him.”

INSIGHT

1. What support has God recently sent when you were serving Him?
2. Whom could you invite to serve with you to grow your ministry impact for God?

As we look at the story of Elijah’s flight from the threats of Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1–9), we see similarities to Moses’ experiences. Just like Moses, Elijah fled from a ruler who intended to kill him (Exodus 2:15; 1 Kings 19:3). Elijah spent forty days journeying to Horeb, the mountain of God (also known as Mount Sinai), and Moses spent forty days on the same mountain (1 Kings 19:8; Exodus 24:18; 34:28). Both prophets met God there on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:11; Exodus 24:12–18). When Elijah arrived, he covered his face with his garment, protecting himself (1 Kings 19:13), similar to Moses’ being protected by the rock as God passed by (Exodus 33:21–22). The NIV Application Commentary notes: “The narrative intentionally makes Elijah a prophet like Moses.”

PRAYER

Dear God, when I feel alone while serving You, remind me that others are with me as we joyfully serve. In Jesus name, I pray and believe. Amen!!

Read: 1 Kings 19:8-11, 15-18 (NIV)  | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 48-49 ; Hebrews  7