SOAP for Friday, May 13, 2022

By: Paul Lancaster

Scripture: Read 1 Kings 19 (NIV). (Today’s focus scripture v. 1-5)

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a days journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

In 1 Kings 18, we see Elijah at his best, a faithful leader who bravely stands his ground against a multitude of false prophets. But in 1 Kings 19, Elijah displays open fear of Jezebel. Upon hearing that he killed the prophets of Baal, she “sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow’” (1 Kings 19:2). As a result, Elijah quickly goes from resting in God’s will to running from God—and for his life.

No man or woman stands any longer than he or she is supported by the divine grace of God. The most experienced saints, if left to themselves, are immediately seen to be as weak as water and as timid as mice. While we may be comforted to know that the Bible’s characters share our weakness, we must also learn from their mistakes so that we do not repeat them. Elijah went from brave faith to fearful flight because his focus changed. As a result, he began to walk not by faith but by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).

Like Elijah, our experiences of despair and disappointment are often accompanied by self-pity. In such moments and seasons, we must begin by determining whether we feel discouraged because our focus has moved from God to our circumstances. Whenever we walk by sight and not by faith, our focus inevitably shifts from God and His provision to ourselves and our insufficiency.

Notice that after Elijah flees into the wilderness, he implores God, saying, “Take away my life” (1 Kings 19:4). He then complains to God, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too (v. 10).” Have you ever felt like you were the ‘only one left’? Was it true?

Elijah allowed the questions of his heart to overturn his faith rather than allowing his faith to overturn the questions of his heart. What fear (False Evidence Appearing Real) is overwhelming your faith? How about we all give it to God?

Prayer: God thank you for sending Jesus to die as a living sacrifice for us. By accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are given a new life. A new life, which includes your Holy Spirit living within us. Father, take our fears and anxieties away so we might stand boldly and faithfully in Your strength.

Amen.