End 3 1/2 Years of No Rain, Elijah Runs to Horeb

Ahab told Jezebel how God responded on Mt. Carmel. It was a wonderful tale of what Elijah had done through the might and power of God. But it had no effect in touching Jezebel's heart and bringing about a desire to mend her evil ways. A hearing of truth simply hardens where it does not save. She became angry and threatened his life. Here was a man of God who had done a valiant service for his master, and now he was threatened with death for his noble efforts.

It is not in this world that the righteous receive their just awards for service performed in the name of the Lord. One of the apparent tragedies of life is that those who do the most in the cause of righteousness are those who also suffer the most. The reason may not always be understood. But there is comfort in the thought that Jesus, the sinless One, suffered more than any child of humanity will be called upon to suffer. The servant is not greater than his lord.

Elijah ran for his life. After so complete a triumph over the prophets of Baal, and after so great a display of courage, it would seem that God's prophet would be ready to meet any trial of faith. One might assume that Elijah, having had so marked an evidence of the presence and blessing of God, would never let his courage fail. But he was suffering from the reaction that so frequently follows marked success.

He had hoped that the glorious victory on Carmel would break the spell of Jezebel upon the king. When the prophet was informed of the queen's stubborn resistance to the new appeal for reformation, it was more than he could bear. He was unprepared for the cool, calculated, determined hatred of this wicked queen. He could think only of how to escape the clutches of so embittered and relentless a foe. Without thinking of the consequences of his course he fled for his life.