Elijah was tired and afraid and discouraged. He had just come from his greatest victory, where God humiliated and defeated the 450 priests of Baal, and put them to death.

God raised up Elijah during the reign of King Ahab. At God’s command, Elijah prophesied a nationwide drought that lasted three years. During that time he lived with a widow, whose small supply of flour and oil were miraculously renewed every day. When her son died, Elijah prayed and the son’s life was restored. Then came the confrontation with the priests of Baal and the end of the drought. And now Jezebel King Ahab’s wife has threatened his life, so Elijah runs away.

Thus far, we can understand. In fact, running away may have been the most prudent thing to do. Get out of town for a while, let things cool down. But Elijah is finished, done, used up. All that he has accomplished seems to have amounted to nothing. He believes he’s the only faithful Israelite left. He just wants to die in peace, not by Jezebel’s sword, but by the very hand of the Lord Himself. “I’ve had enough, Lord, take my life.”

Notice that God does not rebuke Elijah, not yet. He lets him sleep. He sends angels with bread and water to restore Elijah’s strength. Elijah then travels forty days and ends up in a cave. It’s safe, it’s quiet, it is far away from Jezebel, his sworn enemy. Finally, God speaks: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Not “Why are you here” or “How are you feeling now?” No, the question is “What are you doing?” Elijah pours out his lament: “I’ve worked hard, but the Israelites have rejected you and me, all the prophets are gone, I’m the only one left and they are trying to take my life.” Elijah has not told God what he is doing, he’s explaining to God why he wants to die..

God then puts on a little demonstration, stirring up the forces of nature over which He is sovereign. A devastating wind, an earthquake, and fire. Afterward, having obtained Elijah’s attention, God whispers “What are you doing here?” Elijah repeats his lament, but God ignores it. “Go back the way you came” He says. Go back to danger, threats, frustration, because I’m not done with you yet.

There are two important lessons for us in this passage (1 Kings 19:1-15). Most Christians, be they pastors or teachers or elders or deacons or anyone who bears the name of Christ, will at some point get worn out and discouraged to the point of wanting to run away and hide in a quiet cave, or even perhaps wanting life to end because it has become unbearable. What we learn from this account is:

1. God will give His weary servants rest and refreshment in their time of need.
2. God will not let His servants quit until He’s done with them.

What’s troubling you these days? Are you tired of doing the same things over and over and seeing no results? Do you look at the world and think that things are getting worse and worse, and that there is no hope? Do you look at the church and think that the Gospel is getting lost in all the confusion, that truth doesn’t seem to matter, that this wicked culture is eating the church alive? If you think that this is a unique situation, listen to this passage from Isaiah 65.

Isaiah 65:1-9 (NIV) (The Lord speaks.) “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’

All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations — a people who continually provoke me to my very face, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on altars of brick; who sit among the graves and spend their nights keeping secret vigil; who eat the flesh of pigs, and whose pots hold broth of impure meat; who say, ‘Keep away; don’t come near me, for I am too sacred for you!’ Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.”

That was the situation. Does any of it sound familiar? Obstinate people, people who shamelessly provoke God to His face, people who don’t want anything to do with God because they are righteous in their own minds.

The Lord now pronounces judgement.

“See, it stands written before me: I will not keep silent but will pay back in full; I will pay it back into their laps — both your sins and the sins of your ancestors,” says the Lord. “Because they burned sacrifices on the mountains and defied me on the hills, I will measure into their laps the full payment for their former deeds.”

So do you think things are bad today? You’re right. Were things just as bad in the world and in Israel back then? You’re right. Are things going to get worse? Yes, they are. Are you and I going to get tired and discouraged and are we going to want to run away sometimes? Yes, we will. But when that happens, God will provide rest and a meal. When we come to worship, we know that God is in charge. When we gather around the communion table, our hearts and souls are refreshed by the precious body and blood of our Savior Jesus. Here, good friends will pray for us and with us. Here we will find encouragement to keep on. Because God is not done with us. He’s not done with you; He’s not finished with me. It will be over when God says it will be over.

Elijah went back the way he had come. He went on to anoint kings, to select and train his successor, Elisha. He served as chief prophet all the days of King Ahab’s reign and beyond. Elijah had much more work to do, and when it was done, God did not take his life; God took him home. (2 Kings 2:11)

Now the Lord announces His blessing. Although faith seems absent in Israel or in the church, God preserves a faithful remnant. God told Elijah that there were seven thousand men in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal. Returning to Isaiah, God says:

Isaiah 65:8-9 This is what the Lord says: “As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and people say, ‘Don’t destroy it, there is still a blessing in it,’ so will I do on behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all. I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah those who will possess my mountains; my chosen people will inherit them, and there will my servants live.”

My friends, we can trust God to accomplish all He has said He will do. Sometimes it seems like a long and tedious slog, but the promises of God are sure. Jesus came to earth in human flesh, and by His death and resurrection, He brought about salvation for all who would believe. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians he writes:

Galatians 3:26-29 (NIV) So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

When you get discouraged, when you want to run away, when you’re ready to give up, remember the story of Elijah. The promise has been fulfilled, the Savior has come; the final consummation lies ahead. In this already/not yet time, we are called to faithful living. And if we get weary or discouraged, God will refresh us, and He will tell us, “Get back in the battle; I’m not done with you yet.”