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Royalty and Ruin
Jezebel, hardened and unrepentant, became infuriated. She refused
to recognize the overruling hand of God and, still defiant, boldly
declared that Elijah must die.
That night a messenger awoke the weary prophet and delivered
the word of Jezebel: “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I
do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about
this time.”
It would seem that after showing such unfailing courage, and
after triumphing so completely over king and priests and people,
Elijah could never afterward give way to discouragement or become
frightened and timid. But in this dark hour his faith and courage
forsook him. Bewildered, he was startled from his sleep. The
rain was pouring from the heavens, and darkness was all around.
Forgetting that three years before, when God had directed him to a
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place of safety, the prophet now ran for his life.
Elijah’s Lack of Faith
Elijah should not have run. He should have met Jezebel’s threat
with an appeal for protection to the One who had commissioned
him. He should have told the messenger that the God in whom he
trusted would protect him against the queen’s hatred. If he had made
God his refuge and strength, he would have been shielded from
harm. The Lord would have sent His judgments on Jezebel, and the
impression made on king and people would have brought about a
great reformation.
Elijah had hoped that after the miracle on Mount Carmel Jezebel
would no longer have influence over Ahab and that reform would
come quickly to all Israel. All day on Carmel he had gone without
food. Yet when he guided the chariot of Ahab to Jezreel, his courage
was strong despite the physical strain. But a reaction frequently
follows high faith and glorious success. Elijah feared that the refor-
mation begun might not be lasting, and depression seized him. In
this time of discouragement, with Jezebel’s threat sounding in his
ears and Satan still apparently in control, he lost his hold on God.