Elijah’s Journey to Horeb

19 Ahab told Jezebel^(A) everything that Elijah had done^(B) and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.^{(C) 2} So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely^(D) if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”

³ Then Elijah became afraid^[a](E) and immediately ran for his life.^(F) When he came to Beer-sheba^(G) that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there,^{(H) 4} but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree^(I) and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life,^(J) for I’m no better than my ancestors.” ⁵ Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.

Suddenly, an angel touched him.^(K) The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” ⁶ Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water.^(L) So he ate and drank and lay down again. ⁷ Then the angel of the Lord^(M) returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” ⁸ So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked forty days and forty nights^(N) to Horeb, the mountain of God.^{(O) 9} He entered a cave^(P) there and spent the night.

Elijah’s Encounter with the Lord

Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ^(Q)

¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous^(R) for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant,^(S) torn down your altars,^(T) and killed your prophets^(U) with the sword. I alone am left,^(V) and they are looking for me to take my life.”^(W)

¹¹ Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”^(X)

At that moment, the Lord passed by.^(Y) A great and mighty wind^(Z) was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake,^(AA) but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake there was a fire,^(AB) but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.^{(AC) 13} When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle^(AD) and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁴ “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”^(AE)

¹⁵ Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael^(AF) as king over Aram. ¹⁶ You are to anoint Jehu^(AG) son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha^(AH) son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. ¹⁷ Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael,^(AI) and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.^{(AJ) 18} But I will leave seven thousand in Israel^(AK)—every knee that has not bowed to Baal^(AL) and every mouth that has not kissed him.”^(AM)

The Call to Endurance

12 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses^(A) surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance^(B) the race that lies before us, ² keeping our eyes on Jesus,^[a] the pioneer and perfecter^[b] of our faith. For the joy that lay before him,^[c] he endured the cross, despising the shame,^(C) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Fatherly Discipline

³ For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.^(D)

⁵⁴ When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin^(D) is the law.^{(E) 57} But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory^(F) through our Lord Jesus Christ!

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work,^(G) because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.