Victory to vulnerability

Stayed home to listen to a Philly sermon today. It was titled “Victory to Vulnerability”, from 1Kings 18:41-19:10.

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain." 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
43 "Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
"There is nothing there," he said.
Seven times Elijah said, "Go back."
44 The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea."
So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' "
45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the LORD came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."
3 Elijah was afraid [a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

The LORD Appears to Elijah
And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
10 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

Summary:

In Chapter 18, Elijah was portrayed as a man of God, fighting a war with strength and zest. However, in Chapter 19, we see a reverse transformation, a total burnout. Elijah becomes a man afraid of just something Jezebel said, and started complaining to God. (He complained that he had been zealous, but all the prophets have been put to death, with him being the sole survivor. However, it must be noted that Elijah had previously talked to Obadiah, who had told Elijah that he had hidden 100 prophets in a cave.)

Things to note about this passage:

1. The Bible is very real. It doesn’t portray people the way they should be looked up upon, but with the very nature of men. (Besides Elijah, other characters in the Bible like David were also God-fearing but also had their times of vulnerability)
2. God’s grace is there to restore those who are weak and fall.
3. God encourages and strengthens
4. It is important to follow Jesus Christ, and not a man/prophet. (Imagine, if you were following a man like Elijah, full of admiration until chapter 18. Then, suddenly, this man fails and your admiration for him will crush you)

So what caused Elijah to burnout?

1. False expectations result in discouragement
2. Tired physically
3. Spiritually fatigued
4. Fury of the war. (This war will keep going until Jesus returns)
5. Lost focus on God

Solution?

1. Sleep. Rest
2. Spend time alone with God, reading the Bible

Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)