1 Kings 19:1-8
BACKGROUND NOTES
DOCTRINAL POINT(S)
Let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Let’s follow God’s method of restoration.
QUESTIONS
What did Jezebel do when she heard what had happened to the prophets of Baal?
What did Elijah do then?
How did an angel minister to Elijah in these circumstances?
What happened to Elijah when it appeared that he went from courage to cowardice?
How did God restore Elijah? How did the Lord restore Peter?
ANSWERS
She threatened to take Elijah’s life.
He fled to Beersheba, about 100 miles south of Jezreel, then went yet another day’s journey further into the wilderness.
He fed him with a cake baked on coals and gave him a drink from a jar of water. Elijah rested and ate, then was prepared for the journey ahead of him.
Elijah took his eyes off the Lord. He was sucked into the vacuum that comes after a spiritual victory. He experienced unfulfilled expectations (a great revival in Israel, which didn’t happen), and he was physically exhausted.
Elijah was allowed to rest after being tired; he was fed and given instructions from the Lord; he was not rebuked or reprimanded at this point (God remembers our frailty when we need to be restored). Peter took his eyes off the Lord, and the Lord put out His hand to help him.
DISCUSS/CONSIDER
After having experienced a great victory for God, have you then known defeat and discouragement to follow? Was this the reason in line with the Doctrinal Point, “Let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12)?
Have you ever fled from a “Jezebel’s” threats?
CHALLENGE
Have you known the ministry of an angel? Elaborate.
KEY VERSES
“Elijah arose and ran for his life. He prayed that he might die. He said, ‘It is enough!“” 1 Kings 19:3-4
“He arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, to the mountain of God.” 1 Kings 19:8 “Let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall” 1 Corinthians 10:12