Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Elijah walked through a great victory. He was where God told him to be, saying what God told him to say, and through him wonders were performed. But he was as human as we are. He starts out here letting fear get the best of him. You see, Jezebel wasn’t there at the showdown on Mount Carmel. Just Ahab. And her priests. Who were killed. She didn’t take the news well. She sent a note to Elijah saying she was going to see him as dead as her priests were. In reality, she was powerless. The people had all rejected worship of her idols. The king had allowed it AND let Elijah go unpunished. She was throwing a fit, making threats, and bluffing. Sure, if things changed she could do some damage. But at this time? Nothing she could do. Elijah, however, believed her. He got cold feet. He ran.

Elijah ran to Beersheba, and left his servant there. Then we went a day’s journey into the wilderness and sat under a broom tree. He wanted God to kill him. Why? Because he wasn’t any better than his ancestors. All those miraculous moves of God and in the end he was no better than his fathers. Well… duh. That’s the same boat we ALL are in. But it hits those who have experienced great moves or been in the public eye harder than those that haven’t. It’s pride. That is a reaction that shows he had gotten into pride (a little or a lot, we have no idea). God didn’t answer right away. Elijah, exhausted, fell asleep.

An angel appeared and woke him. The angel pointed to food and water. He told Elijah to eat. Elijah obeyed. And then he went back to sleep. The angel came again and woke him. Same deal. He had to eat, this time he was told about a journey and needing strength for it. He ate and the food gave him the strength to last forty days and nights – that is supernatural food. Up he got and off he went. It took him that long to get to Horeb, also called Sinai, the mountain of God which was in Arabia (NOT the Sinai Peninsula – Galatians 4:25). He went into a cave partway up the mountain and he spent the night there.

The Lord spoke to him and asked him why he was HERE (fear and unbelief), instead of THERE (back where he had started, where God showed such great victory). Elijah kind of whines here. We’ve all been there. Telling God how hard we have it. Thing is, not all of what Elijah said was the truth. He claimed he was the ONLY priest left (not true – 1 Kings 18:13) and all the people were against God (not true. Elijah had just started what could have been a great revival – 1 Kings 18:39). God doesn’t point that out. God doesn’t get mad. God tells him to go stand on the mountain itself, outside the cave. Elijah obeys. He may have been human like us, imperfect, but when he heard, Elijah OBEYED. It was a strong point in this man’s character.

God sent some spectacular sights. Strong wind that broke rock. Earthquake. Fire. But God wasn’t IN them. He just sent them. Finally, after all that power on display, a still small voice. God asked him why he was HERE. Elijah responded the same way as before. Oh well. We can’t get it right all the time. Who knows what would have happened if Elijah had changed his answer? Unimportant. God gave him instructions: First, go to the Wilderness of Damascus and anoint Hazael as king over Syria (we have no record of him doing this. 2 Kings 8:7-15 has Elisha doing this. Strike one.). Second, Elijah was to anoint Jehu, the son of Nimshi as king over Israel (we have no record of him doing this. 2 Kings 9:1-13 has Elisha doing this. Strike two.). Third, anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat. Elijah did this one. When you look at it, Elijah only did one-third of what God told him to do. Yet he walked with God AND was one of only two (2) people who were taken to heaven without dying. This is another thing that proves God is merciful and seeks a relationship with us on the basis of HIS love, not our performance – and if we would do the same we would naturally find ourselves obeying Him (John 14:15).

What was the point behind these anointings? God told Elijah whoever escaped Hazael’s sword would be caught by Jehu. Who ever escaped Jehu’s sword would be caught by Elisha. God also told him that there were seven THOUSAND people in Israel who had NEVER bowed to the idols, but had stayed faithful to Yahweh. Elijah heard God, rose up, and went about the tasks.

He found Elisha plowing a field with twelve yoke of oxen [These two names can be confusing, but in Hebrew the names are Eliyahu and Elishua, which is easier not to confuse.]. Elijah went up to him and threw his mantle on him (legend has it that this mantle was passed down prophet to prophet and was the ‘hairy garment’ that John the Baptist wore – no scriptural evidence for it though). Elisha asked for leave to say goodbye to his family before following Elijah. Elijah told him basically, I’ve done what God said to do. You do whatever you want. Elisha took a yoke of the oxen and slaughtered them, fed his servants from it, and followed Elijah. Maybe he said bye to his parents and maybe not. It never tells us. But from this point on, Elisha was Elijah’s servant.

“Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all of his army, and thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. He went up and laid siege against Samaria and fought with it.” (1 Kings 20:1)

Syria made war against Samaria and were definitely the more powerful. Ban-Hadad demanded Ahab’s silver, gold, children, and loveliest wives. Ahab agreed with no hesitation. That wasn’t any fun for Ben-Hadad. He seems to have wanted to hurt Ahab and humiliate him. Next he told Ahab that he would send messengers to go through Ahab’s house and take anything they wanted. Ahab appealed to the elders of Israel and they said to refuse this request. Which Ahab did. Ben-Hadad laughed, because he had more men and they prepared to destroy the city.

An unnamed prophet showed up (Elijah was busy, but Ahab was king and God was dealing with him as head of the nation). He had a message from God: you see all this multitude? I’m giving them into your hand. I’ll do it today and you’ll know I AM God. Ahab thought that was great, but asked who would be participating? The young leaders of the provinces. Great, but who will arrange the troops? Ahab could. Great. Ahab mustered the two hundred and thirty-two young leaders and behind them the seven thousand children of Israel ready for battle. They left the city and advanced at noon.

Ben-Hadad and his thirty-two kings were getting drunk at the command post. He was told there were men coming out of Samaria. Ben-Hadad said to take them alive whether they were envoys or warriors. But the young leaders fought and every one of them killed those who came against them. Syria fled, Israel pursued. Ben-Hadad escaped on a horse with the rest of the cavalry. Then Ahab and the men of Israel came out against anyone who was left – the horses and chariots left behind. The prophet came again and gave another word: strengthen yourself. They’ll be back in the spring.

The Syrians stewed over the winter. They decided that the gods of the Israelites were hill gods. Of course we lost. Next time, we’ll fight on the flats. Their gods won’t be able to help them. They prepared and come spring, off they went to fight Israel. This time though, no kings. Instead they had experienced soldiers. Ben-Hadad was ready. They gathered at Aphek, on the plains. They filled the countryside.

Israel was encamped too. Like two little goats. But a man of God (not necessarily the same guy) came with a word from God: Because the Syrians think I only have power in the hills, I will deliver you and you will know I AM God. The two sides camped against each other for seven days and then fought. Israel killed 100,000 foot soldiers in one day. The rest of the Syrians fled to Aphek and locked themselves in. Ben-Hadad found an inner room and locked himself in that.

They talked among themselves and reasoned that the Israelites were known for mercy. If they put on sackcloth and ashes and went out being humble, they would probably be spared. Ben-Hadad agreed and off they went. Ahab let Ben-Hadad come near. Ben-Hadad made an offer: he would restore all the cities taken by his father and would let Ahab set up in the marketplaces of Damascus. Ahab thought that was great and sent him off having made treaty with him. This was stupid. Syria gave them nothing and no one set up anything in Damascus. Israel could have dealt with everything right there with their completely defeated foe. But Ahab was flattered and let his enemy go. Sheer foolishness.

Another godly man had some one smack him, inflicting a wound on him. He bandaged it and waited in the road for Ahab. When the king came by he spun a tale of woe. He claimed he’d been given a man to guard, but the man had escaped while he was busy. Ahab judged him guilty life for life, or he could pay a talent of silver. No extenuating circumstances. No mercy. Then the prophet revealed himself and told Ahab that because Ahab had let go a man appointed to utter destruction, Ahab’s life would go for his. Ahab went home sullen (instead of in joyful victory), displeased, and probably pouty.

Summary

Key Players: God, Elijah, Ahab, Ben-Hadad

Key Themes: Obedience, Judgment, Mercy, Anointing

Key Verse(s): 1 Kings 19:1-4, 13-14, 19-20; 20:5-8, 19-21, 23-25, 30, 34, 42-43