Observations from 1 Kings, #3

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah appears to Obadiah and tells him to summon Ahab for the challenge on Mount Carmel. Obadiah's response is interesting for several reasons.

The challenge takes place: Elijah calls down fire from heaven after the prophets of Baal cannot; Elijah then slays the prophets of Baal. Jezebel, wife of Ahab, is enraged; she sends a message to Elijah telling him his life will end before the same time tomorrow. Elijah flees into the wilderness.

Notice, however, that Elijah has a certain type of attitude, epitomized in these three verses from 1 Kings:

(18:22, during the challenge) Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
(19:10, in the wilderness) 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.
(19:14, also in the wilderness and apparently oblivious to the fact that God heard him a few moments earlier) 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.

Many have preached on Elijah's erroneous attitude here, and justifiably so. I found it interesting that Elijah said it—when he knew it was not true! We note Obadiah's reference in 18:13 that he was personally responsible for hiding one hundred of the Lord's prophets from Jezebel and Ahab. Then in 19:18, God reminds Elijah that there are still thousands who have not bowed to Baal.

The moral may be obvious, but it merits being said: Even when we feel alone, as if we were God's last living servant on this earth and nobody even cares...it's not true. God still has a remnant, and although they may represent a small percentage of humankind, we do not labor for God alone. This is a comforting thought! Encourage others who serve God, and let them be an encouragement to you.