DEALING WITH FEAR: ELIJAH
January 4, 2026
Joe discusses the topic of fear and the lessons that can be learned by studying Elijah in the book of1 Kings (18, 19, and 21). Elijah was a prophet in Israel (the northern kingdom) in about 860 BC, a time of famine and drought. Ahab is the king. He is not righteous. His wife, Jezebel is even worse. She does not like God and openly supports the prophets and priests of Baal and Asherah. Neither Ahab or Jezebel have any regard or respect for God’s prophets, and by extension, no respect for the God of the universe. Instead, they support the 850 prophets of pagan gods. These chapters of 1 Kings describe the “show down” between Ahab, a powerful man of the world, and Elijah, God’s prophet and representative. Elijah is busy setting the conditions required for God to address the problems of pagan disobedience and the famine/drought in the land of His people. On the flip side, the pagan prophets are attempting to activate their gods to bring rain by worship and engaging in human bleeding rituals. The end result is that the God of the universe shows His power and might through miracles (for more detail, listen to the sermon or read the chapters referenced). After God performs His miracles and the famine/drought is ended and the pagan prophets are eliminated, Elijah is threatened by Jezebel and he caves to fear. He hides and asks God to take his life. He is not only fearful but engaged in self pity. God intervenes and gives Elijah specific instructions to follow. Essentially, Elijah has just witnessed the miracles performed by the God of the universe and instead of having faith that God will also take care of Jezebel, he cowers and hides in fear.
What are the lessons learned here? 1. We are not alone, we are never alone. 2. Put in the necessary work. 3. Let the Holy Spirit lead. 4. Take care of oneself. 5. Remember exhaustion is physical, mental, and spiritual. 6. Consult God repeatedly. 7. Stay positive, there is truly nothing God cannot do. 8. We are allowed to visit the “mountain top” experiences but we do not live on the mountain top, life is the mundane details, remember God’s beauty and power in those mundane details.
