1 Kings 19

V 1–4: DEPRESSED STATE Elijah finds that the opposition does not die with the extermination of the prophets of Baal, nor with the arrival of the rain. Jezebel threatens to kill him. So soon after witnessing the triumph at Mount Carmel, Elijah flees and asks God to take his life. Depressed as he is, he does not consider suicide to be an option. V 5–8: DERIVED STRENGTH God provides for him shelter, rest, and—miraculously again—food and drink. In the strength of God’s miraculous intervention, he goes forty days as far as Horeb. V 9–12: DYNAMIC STILLNESS Elijah laments his solitariness as God’s prophet in a wicked and hostile environment. God speaks to Elijah again, showing him a great wind, earthquake, and fire, before speaking to him in a still small voice. The power of God’s personal whisper is greater than these other phenomena. V 13–18: DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY God also reveals that He has His plan and tells Elijah of three men, whom He will ultimately use to destroy Baal worship. They are Hazael, Jehu and Elisha. Elijah is to make sure that these men are anointed and that Elisha is anointed as his successor. In the event, Elijah only anoints Elisha, who later anoints the other two. God reminds Elijah that there are 7,000 in Israel who are faithful to God and against Baal worship. V 19–21: DEDICATED SUCCESSOR Elijah throws his mantle on Elisha, who becomes Elijah’s servant in preparation for the task which God will give him to do after Elijah’s departure from the earth. Elisha breaks completely with his former legitimate lifestyle in order to follow God.