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1 Kings 19:1 – 18
Where God Is Found
Background: A fatigued, frustrated, frightened prophet named Elijah encountered an vicious, vindictive, vile Queen. Elijah began to wonder where was God. Why was God not actually changing things?
I. We can get tired working for God.
A. Elijah’s resume – “at wit’s end.”
1. Prayed for and announced a drought that lasted three and a half years.
2. Show-down on Mt. Carmel:
a. He prayed and fire fell from heaven.
b. He ordered the mass execution of the prophets of Baal (who had probably ordered the mass execution of the prophets of God).
3. His prayer ended a drought.
a. He prayed seven times and sent his servant up a mountain seven times!
b. He outran chariots the 20 miles from Carmel to Jezreel.
B. Reality: Physical and emotion exhaustion brings severe danger. (Reeling and staggering)
1. The cost of fear is high.
a. Jezebel’s threat on his life (19:3)
b. Causes a flip from victory to cowardice.
2. Our greatest times of danger:
a. After we have succeeded – don’t know the danger.
b. When we are tired – don’t have the energy to think straight.
c. When we are afraid – don’t have the feeling of confidence.
d. When we are alone (or feel alone) – don’t know the difference.
***** So how do we find God when we need Him? *****
II. God is found in the gentle.
A. Where God is not:
1. In the wind that tore mountains and broke/shattered rocks. (Like when Israel crossed the Red Sea.)
2. In the earthquake. (Like when the walls of Jericho fell.)
3. In the fire. (Like at Mt. Carmel.)
B. God is in the “gentle whisper.” (KJV “still small voice”)
1. Elijah thinks he is a failure.
2. Elijah wonders if God is in all this (angry – abandoned by God).
***** We can fail God but God does not fail us! (Elijah deserted his position and wanted to desert life itself.) *****
Notice God is not angry instead...
III. God knows the situation and cares.
A. Elijah does not correctly see the situation.
1. He has had 40 days to rehearse his complaint to God.
2. He has developed a “Tigger” (a character from Winnie the Pooh) complex: “I’m the only one.”
3. Reality:
a. 1 Kings 20:13
b. 1 Kings 20:35
c. 1 Kings 22:8
B. How this works:
1. Know God’s power but forget God’s gentleness in times of need.
2. Know God’s provision but forget the provision of God’s love.
3. Know God’s presence but forget and think we are alone.
***** Guard your heart against thinking you are alone or God has abandoned you. *****
(Ill.) The all purpose lubricant WD 40 gets its name from “Water Displacement” and the number of experiments needed to get it right. In other words, there were 39 tries that did not work. Imagine if the inventor of WD 40 had given up at 38 tries, we’d never have WD 40.
IV. God does not give up on us. He gives us hope in another chance.
(It is mistaken to think of God as the “God of second chances.” He’s the “God of another chance.”)
A. Take care of yourself physically (19:5 – 8)
1. He needed sleep.
2. He needed to eat. (God fed him.)
3. The physical effects the spiritual. (If you do not feel well physically then you can struggle spiritually.)
B. Trust God for justice (19:17)
1. Elijah is unhappy because of what “they” have done.
2. Take the complaint to God – Let God take care of the situation.
C. Travel the road God directs you on (19:15)
1. (v 15) “go back the way you came” – right past Jezebel.
2. Specific directions:
a. Notice God does not deal with Elijah on an emotional level.
b. God does give hope by sending him on several missions.
