Jezebel Threatens Elijah
After hearing what had happened on Mount Carmel, Jezebel threatened Elijah's life. Elijah fled south toward Beersheba. See 1 Kings 19:1–3.
From Fear and Exhaustion to Renewed Purpose
Prophets, Faith and Miracles • Exhibit 2 of 8
After Queen Jezebel threatened his life, Elijah fled into the wilderness. God provided food and rest, strengthened him for a forty-day journey to Horeb, and met him there in a way very different from the fire on Mount Carmel.
First Kings 19 shows a deeply human prophet who had just witnessed extraordinary power, yet soon found himself fearful, exhausted and isolated.
After hearing what had happened on Mount Carmel, Jezebel threatened Elijah's life. Elijah fled south toward Beersheba. See 1 Kings 19:1–3.
Elijah went a day's journey into the wilderness and sat beneath a broom tree in deep discouragement. See 1 Kings 19:4.
An angel touched Elijah, provided food and water, and allowed him to rest before strengthening him again. See 1 Kings 19:5–7.
Strengthened by that provision, Elijah traveled forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. See 1 Kings 19:8–9.
Elijah entered a cave and spent the night there.
A great wind tore into the mountains, but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind came an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire came a still small voice, and Elijah covered his face with his mantle and listened.
Horeb was not the end of Elijah's ministry. God heard him, corrected his sense of isolation and gave him new assignments involving Hazael, Jehu and Elisha. God also revealed that seven thousand in Israel had not bowed to Baal. See 1 Kings 19:15–18.