Source Channel · retold from 1 Kings 19:1–13
Ahab tells Jezebel all that Elijah has done. Jezebel sends a messenger to Elijah: by tomorrow about this time, it will be with him as with the prophets he has killed. Elijah gets up and goes for his life.
A day into the wilderness
He comes to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and leaves his servant there. Then he goes a day's journey into the wilderness. He sits down under a juniper tree and asks that he might die.
“It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
– 1 Kings 19:4
Bread and water at his head
Elijah lies down and sleeps under the juniper tree. An angel touches him and says: Arise and eat. At his head there is a cake baken on the coals and a cruse of water.
He eats and drinks and lies down again. The angel of the LORD comes a second time, touches him and says:
“Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.”
– 1 Kings 19:7
Elijah gets up, eats and drinks. In the strength of that food he goes forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
No storm, no fire
There he goes into a cave and stays the night. The word of the LORD asks him: What doest thou here, Elijah? He answers: he has been very jealous for the LORD, the children of Israel have forsaken the covenant, he alone is left, and they seek his life.
The LORD says: Go forth and stand upon the mount before the LORD. A great and strong wind tears the mountains and breaks the rocks in pieces, but the LORD is not in the wind. After the wind comes an earthquake, but the LORD is not in the earthquake.
“And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”
– 1 Kings 19:12
When Elijah hears it, he wraps his face in his mantle. He goes out and stands in the entrance of the cave. A voice asks him: What doest thou here, Elijah?
What this has to do with you today
Elijah says: “It is enough.” What comes next is not a speech at first, but sleep, bread, water and a touch. If you can't go on right now, you may read this story slowly – as slowly as Elijah lived it.
Never Alone Guide: When you can't go on →
Bible quotes: King James Version (public domain). This retelling stays with the Bible text and adds no events. Photos: Unsplash.
