Elijah had just battled prophets of Baal, with a victorious win 450 to 1 person, and he had also brought rain back to the people at the most important time of the farming period. From an achievement point of view, he must be at the peak of his prophetic career at 1 Kings 18. Elijah probably thought that the powerful miracle at Carmel should be sufficient for the entire nation to finally return back to Yahweh, restoring the kingdom to its finest glory once again. However, it did not happen. When Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword, Jezebel responded with to Elijah with a death threat saying, “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.” (v1-2)

The bible tells us that Elijah was afraid and the direct translation of the Hebrew word “afraid” is to see. Elijah saw the reality of the situation and became fearful. I recently climbed a volcano mountain at the height of above 3000 metres and in order to see the sunrise from the summit, we ascended the mountain in the wee hours of the morning. It was dark at night and we could not see the surrounding condition except in locations where the torch light could reach. Our minds were only focused on ascending to the top of the mountain. It was only when we descended the mountain from the summit after the sun has risen that I realised how narrow and dangerous some of the paths were. I saw in the light and became afraid of the height. Elijah saw the reality of the situation, became fearful and ran. He came to a broom bush, 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.”

Just a few days before, he had stood on Mount Carmel as the mighty prophet of God. He seem to have the keys to the skies, commanding fire and water as he lifted his voice in prayer. Yet now he fled at the sight of a single person, sitting under a broom tree, depressed, defeated and ready to die. Spurgeon says, “Elijah failed in the very point at which he was strongest, and that is where most men fail. In Scripture, it is the wisest man who proves himself to be the greatest fool; just as the meekest man, Moses, spoke hasty and bitter words. Abraham failed in his faith, and Job in his patience; so, he who was the most courageous of all men, fled from an angry woman.” It reminds us that Elijah is but a man like us. He, too, could be impatient; he, too, could be petulant; he, too, could grow weary of his appointed service, and ask to be allowed to die.

However, it takes great comfort to know that God did not leave him in that state forever. God did something loving. God fed him. God could have reprimanded him for his lack of faith, but He did not. God met him at where his needs were, and His presence was ever near. Just like the narrative in John 21 when Jesus met Peter again at the sea of Galilee after Jesus’ resurrection. When Peter heard that it was Jesus at the shore, he jumped into the water and swam back. What greeted the disciples was fire of burning coals with some fish and bread on it. Jesus met the hungry and tired disciples at where they were. Jesus fed them and strengthened them.

Dear brothers and sisters, are you worn out by the realities of life and ministry? Take heart that even the great Elijah fell, but the Lord fed him and lift him up on his feet. Isaiah 40:30-31 tells us, “Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” We can take heart that even in our worst state, the Lord feeds and strengthens us as we return to Him.