Elijah had just enjoyed one of the greatest victories in the Bible record. He follows it up with a great defeat. We must learn of our vulnerability at such times and prepare for the battle after the victory.

1. THE TRIAL OF FAITH (1 Kings 19:1-4 [1] And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. [3] And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. [4] But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
   See All...; see 1 Peter 1:6-7 [6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
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1. The Threats of Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1-2 [1] And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
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1. Jezebel received the news of the slain prophets (1 Kings 19:1And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
   See All...).
2. Jezebel promised to take the life of Elijah (1 Kings 19:2Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
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1. She sent a messenger to deliver the message to Elijah.
2. She swore on her gods.
3. She promised to make Elijah like the slain prophets.
4. She promised to do it by tomorrow about this time.
2. The Flight of Elijah (1 Kings 19:3-4 [3] And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. [4] But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
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1. He fled for his life (1 Kings 19:3And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
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2. He came to Beersheba and left his servant there (he was going south) (1 Kings 19:3And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
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3. He went a day’s journey into the wilderness (1 Kings 19:4But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
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2. THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR (1 Kings 19:4-10 [4] But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. [5] And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. [6] And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. [7] And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. [8] And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. [9] And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? [10] And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
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1. Elijah’s Wish to Die (1 Kings 19:4But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
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1. Elijah found a hiding place.
1. A day’s journey into the wilderness
2. He sat down under a juniper tree.
2. Elijah asked that his life might end.
3. NOTE: At least seven men in the Bible at one time wished to die; Paul was the only one who was not feeling sorry for himself at the time.
1. Job (Job 3:3-11 [3] Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. [4] Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. [5] Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. [6] As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months. [7] Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. [8] Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning. [9] Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day: [10] Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes. [11] Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
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2. Moses (Numbers 11:15And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.
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3. Solomon (Ecclesiastes 2:17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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4. Elijah (1 Kings 19:4But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
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5. Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:14-18 [14] Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed. [15] Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad. [16] And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide; [17] Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me. [18] Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
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6. Jonah (Jonah 4:3Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
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7. Paul (Philippians 1:21-24
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2. Elijah’s Attempt to Quit (1 Kings 19:5-8 [5] And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. [6] And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. [7] And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. [8] And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
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1. The awakening by the angel (1 Kings 19:5And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
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2. The meal provided by the angel (1 Kings 19:6And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
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1. A cake
2. A cruse of water
3. The second meal provided by the angel (1 Kings 19:7And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
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4. The commission of Elijah (1 Kings 19:8And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
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1. He went in the strength of the meat of the Lord.
2. He went for forty days and forty nights (a number which deals with times of testing).
3. He went to Mount Horeb; another name for Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:1Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
   See All..., 12; Malachi 4:4Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
   See All...).
3. Elijah’s Complaint to God (1 Kings 19:9-10 [9] And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? [10] And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
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1. Elijah lodged in a cave (1 Kings 19:9And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
   See All...).
2. God asked him, What doest thou here, Elijah? (1 Kings 19:9And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
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1. The word of the Lord came to him.
2. God seemed to be asking Elijah how he got to this place in his ministry. This is a good question for all of us at times in our lives.
3. God repeated this question in 1 Kings 19:13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
   See All....
3. Elijah declared his situation (1 Kings 19:10And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
   See All...).
1. He had been very jealous for the Lord.
2. Israel had forsaken God’s covenant.
3. Israel had thrown down God’s altars.
4. Israel had slain God’s prophets with the sword.
5. Elijah was the only faithful prophet remaining.
6. Now they sought to take his life.
3. THE VOICE OF GOD (1 Kings 19:11-18 [11] And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: [12] And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. [13] And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? [14] And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. [15] And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: [16] And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. [17] And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. [18] Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
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1. Elijah’s Invitation (1 Kings 19:11And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
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1. The Lord told Elijah to go stand upon the mount.
2. The LORD passed by.
3. Note: The Lord was speaking to Elijah and yet told him to go stand “before the LORD.” It is quite possible this is another reference to the distinctive existence of God the Father and God the Son.
2. A Display of Power (1 Kings 19:11-12 [11] And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: [12] And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
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1. A great strong wind (1 Kings 19:11And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
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1. It rent the mountains.
2. It brake in pieces the rocks.
2. An earthquake (1 Kings 19:11And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
   See All...)
3. A fire (1 Kings 19:12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
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4. But God was not in any of them.
3. A Still Small Voice (1 Kings 19:12-13 [12] And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. [13] And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
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1. It came after the displays of power (1 Kings 19:12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
   See All...).
2. It called Elijah out of his cave (1 Kings 19:13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
   See All...).
3. It asked him what he was doing here (1 Kings 19:13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
   See All...).
4. A Renewed Commission (1 Kings 19:14-17 [14] And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. [15] And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: [16] And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. [17] And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
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1. Elijah held to his defeated attitude (1 Kings 19:14And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
   See All...).
2. God seemed to avoid responding to Elijah’s answer (1 Kings 19:15And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
   See All...).
3. God wanted him to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria (1 Kings 19:15And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
   See All...).
4. God wanted him to anoint Jehu to be king over Israel (1 Kings 19:16And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
   See All...).
5. God wanted him to anoint Elisha to be prophet (1 Kings 19:16And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
   See All...).
6. To give victory over the house of Ahab (1 Kings 19:17And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
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1. By Hazael
2. By Jehu
3. By Elisha
7. NOTE: Elijah continued to minister, but his role is diminished. It seems that he lost the confidence of God. We should be careful not to refuse to serve God in the role in which He has placed us.
5. A Revealed Remnant (1 Kings 19:18Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
   See All...) – 7,000 that have not bowed to Baal
4. THE CALL OF ELISHA (1 Kings 19:19-21 [19] So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. [20] And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? [21] And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
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1. Elijah Found Elisha (1 Kings 19:19So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
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1. He was plowing with oxen; Note: God calls busy men.
2. He was plowing with the twelfth oxen.
3. Elijah cast his mantle on him.
2. Elisha Followed Elijah (1 Kings 19:20-21 [20] And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? [21] And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
   See All...).
1. He requested to go back to kiss his parents (1 Kings 19:20And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
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2. He slew a yoke of oxen and served a feast (1 Kings 19:21And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
   See All...); he cut off the ties to his old life.
3. He went after Elijah; he ministered unto him (1 Kings 19:21And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
   See All...; 2 Kings 3:11But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
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Elijah was a man of extremes. He had great victories, but often followed those with great failures. Yet, God used Elijah in spite of his inconsistencies.