The focus of attention in chapter 19 is on Elijah. After two chapters of overwhelming prophetic success, after two chapters of seeing the hand of God at work in powerful ways, we might expect Elijah to be spiritually invincible. However, this chapter focuses on Elijah's depression and his inability to function spiritually at all.
The Verses
1-3 Here the circumstances leading to his spiritual crash landing are briefly described..
Ahab told Jezebel about the death of the 450 prophets of Baal. She responded with the kind of anger and hatred that is so characteristic of sin.
Never mind that the drought destroying her people had ended. Never mind that Baal's prophets had totally failed in the contest of Carmel.
Never mind the facts; Jezebel responded out of the self-centeredness of sin and she promised vengeance. She sent a messenger to Elijah with the grim promise that she would kill Elijah within twenty-four hours. Elijah's response was fear, flight, and depression.
4-18 Elijah is comforted by the angel of the Lord. When we see “an angel” in the Old Testament, the reference is to a messenger of God. When we see the angel of the Lord, most often the reference is to Jesus.
Because of the words of the text, it is not certain that this particular incident is speaking of Jesus, it may or may not be.
When asked his purpose, Elijah, like so many of us, points out his accomplishments, as if to impress the Lord. Then he whines that his “reward” does not match his contribution.
Verses 11-12 show us that God controls nature, but He is not nature.
The Psalmist tells us, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
God does not cause the disruption of the elements except when He has a specific lesson to teach, such as Jesus’ calming of the sea when the disciples were afraid. (Matt. 8:23-27)
Verses 15-17 speak of “anointing.” Anointing is used synonymously with appointment (Judges 9:8), and is applied to all named, although Jehu alone had the consecrated oil poured over his head.
19-21 Elisha the son of Shaphat—Most probably he belonged to a family distinguished for piety, and for their opposition to the prevailing calf-worship.
Elijah had been educated in the schools of the prophets, and the throwing on of the mantle was an investiture of the prophetic office. Elisha was being “ordained” as a prophet.
Elijah tells Elisha that he has been called by God, not man.
There are many ceremonies that we observe as institutes of man, not God. God does not depend upon those ceremonies. He calls whom He calls, quite apart from earthly “ordinations,” etc.
Elisha took care of his responsibilities and then followed Elijah as his minister.
In the New Testament, some men were fishing. They too did not hesitate when Jesus called
them. They left their nets and they followed Jesus. See Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20.
What about you. Would you leave what you are doing to follow Christ?
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