May 11 Daily Devotional

1 Kings 19

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how the prophets of Baal had been slain with the sword. This made her very angry and she sent a messenger to 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 tomorrow about this time.” Elijah saw that his life was in danger, so he fled. He hastened southward. He came to Beersheba on the edge of the desert. There he left his servant and went on alone into the dreary desert. After walking many hours over the burning sand, he sat down to rest under a juniper tree. He was hungry, tired and discouraged. All his work seemed to be in vain. He cried, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under the juniper tree.

And behold, an angel of the Lord touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked and behold, there was a cake baken on coals, and a cruse of water. And the angel said again, “Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.” And he arose, did eat and drink, and went in the strength of, that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb, the mount of God.

And the word of the Lord came to him and said, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very jealous for the Lord … and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks, but. the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind came an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake came a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, Elijah heard a still small voice, the voice of the Lord. Elijah wrapped his face in his mantle, and he stood in the opening of the cave. And the voice said to him, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “I have been very jealous for the Lord … and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus … anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou appoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat … shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room … Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal.” So Elijah returned; and he found Elisha the son of Shaphat plowing with oxen on a field; he passed by him and cast his mantle upon him. And Elisha left the oxen, followed Elijah and ministered unto him.