1. 1. 1 Kings 19:4-8 Elijah strengthened by that food, he walked to the mountain of God. Copyrighted material that appears in this article is included under the provisions of the Fair Use Clause of the National Copyright Act, which allows limited reproduction of copyrighted materials for educational and religious use when no financial charge is made for viewing. Catholic Lectionary. (2009). . Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
2. 2. 4 and [Elijah] went a days journey into the desert, until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death: This is enough, O LORD! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers. 5 He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree, but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat. 6 He looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jar of water. After he ate and drank, he lay down again, 7 but the angel of the LORD came back a second time, touched him, and ordered, Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you! 8 He got up, ate and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.
3. 3. Elijah a prophet of God is asking God to take his life but why? We need to understand Elijahs circumstances and then we can come to terms with his request that God take his life. Lets take a look at the preceding chapter 1 Kings 18. God is using Elijah in an effort to turn Israel away from idol worship and back to God. The king at the time was Ahab but the real power in the country was Ahabs wife pagan princess Jezebel. When married she brought to Israel her form of religion, idol worship of the pagan god Baal. She also assembled 450 of what she called prophets of Baal. Elijah now needed to show that the God of Israel was the only true God and here is what he did.
4. 4. 1 Kgs 18:30 Elijah challenged 450 Prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel The contest rules were Each side would build an altar. Prepare a Sacrifice No one would light the sacrificial fire. The real God would send fire. Whoever lost, DIED! The real God would protect His prophets. Baals prophets prayed, danced and cut themselves. This went on until the afternoon.
5. 5. It Was Now Elijahs Turn Elijah built the altar. Prepared the sacrifice. Then to add drama to the demonstration, he had the sacrifice soaked with water 3 times. Then he prayed (1 Kgs. 18:36-37). Fire came down from heaven, and the whole altar, including the stones were incinerated.
6. 6. 1 Kgs. 19:4 Elijah at Sinai Jezebel was still the real power in the land. She was furious with Elijah for killing all of Baals prophets. She sent Elijah a message that she would have him killed the next day. He then ran for his life.
7. 7. The reason for Elijahs depression and his request that God take his life is now clear. Elijah had risked his life for God, won a great victory and was still threatened by the kings wife. In this reading we see that Elijah remained faithful and continued to obey Gods every desire. Now he sets off on a 40 day march to the mountain of God, Horeb.