1 Kings 18-19

These two chapters represent a significant contrast in the heart of the prophet Elijah. In the first he boldly challenges king Ahab, all the false prophets of baal, and the people in Israel, demonstrating Who is God with fire from heaven. In the next chapter Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah, and he is terrified, and flees for his life. He runs 100 miles to the southern extreme of Israel, and the angel of the Lord provides him with food and drink, and then he goes deep into the Arabian desert, to the mountain of God at Horeb, where God spoke to Moses.

Elijah is complaining and whining to God about how much he has served Him, and how he is the only prophet of God who is left in the land. Yet, twice the Lord asks him “what are you doing here?”. God simply tells Elijah that there are 7,000 others in Israel who are faithful to Him, and then gives him instructions to go back and finish the work He had for him to do.

God was gracious and merciful to Elijah and his self-pity, but He essentially said “get over yourself, and go back to work for Me.”