King Ahab's wife, Jezebel is out to get him. There is a death note on his head so he flees for his life by going into the wilderness alone. He finds a tree to sit under and tells God that he is finished - done. He's had enough. "Take my life for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died", he says. But God doesn't buy it. God sends an angel to feed him, (twice) because he will need this nourishment to travel the next 40 days and nights to the mountain of God. Here, Elijah continues to lay out his complaint: "I have zealously served you, but the people have broken your covenant. I am the only one left," he says. God's response seems odd.
Elijah was probably like many pastors who have experienced great success at various times in ministry. We like the successes. We like to preach a great sermon that will "revive" people. We like to be successful when it comes to making a "laughing stock" out of false gods. We may think we can "outrun" others who are in this Christian journey. We might even have to remind God that we have been zealously seeking Him while others have not. When we think like this it tells us that we have allowed ministry to be about us and not God.
Like Elijah, we need to step back, get away, and journey to the mountain of God for some spiritual nourishment and refreshment. We need God to remind us that He is not always in the windstorm, earthquake or fire but often in the still, small voice. It's too easy to get caught up in the fireworks of doing ministry and begin to feel that "you" are something great. As you taste success, it is also easy to begin looking down on others for not being as zealous as you are.
Here's what happens next for Elijah: God tells him to go find Elisha and "anoint him to replace Elijah as God's prophet." Was it because of Elijah's complaining that God decided to replace him? I don't think so. After Elijah had been with God on the mountain and was refreshed, God intended for him to equip and empower a co-worker to continue the work. He was to be a kind of mentor to Elisha. Remember how, just before Elijah is taken away, Elisha asks for a double-measure of his spirit? I think Elijah had been so spiritually revived by spending time with God and had gotten himself realigned with God's purpose for his life that he had much more to now give.
So the lesson is: Remember that ministry is always about God, not me. Yes, God does many wonderful, miraculous things, but more often than not, these happen in a gentle whisper. In order to hear God, we have to take time to be alone with Him, to be renewed in strength and purpose. We may feel alone oftentimes, but the truth is, we aren't. God is always there; we just may not recognize His quiet presence.
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