What happened during Elijah’s visit to Mount Horeb in 1 Kings 19:9 is one of the most difficult passages to understand. After Jezebel vehemently threatened to take his life, Elijah fled Samaria and journeyed to Beersheba, where he left his servant before continuing a day’s journey into the wilderness.  As he lay under a juniper tree in the wilderness, he seriously doubted himself and fell into a very deep depression, convincing himself that he was no better than his forefathers. He even requested that he die.

​

Elijah didn’t eat, and as he lay asleep, he was awakened by an angel that brought him some fresh baked bread and water and requested that he eat. After he ate, he laid himself back down and went to sleep. The journey to Mount Horeb, to where he was fleeing, was great, so the angel came a second time with food. It isn’t said what Elijah ate this time, but whatever it was, it provided him with all the strength needed for the forty-day journey.

​

When Elijah got to Mount Horeb, he settled down in a cave, and in due time, the LORD spoke to him and asked why he was here. What God was actually asking was why was he fleeing from Jezebel when he served a God with all power in his hands. Elijah replied how he was steadfast for the LORD God of Israel but that Israel had forsaken His covenant and thrown down His altars and killed His prophets with the sword. He concluded with how he was the only one left and how they also sought to take his life.

​

God had no more questions for Elijah. Afterall, everything that he said was true...mostly. Instead, God told him to step outside the cave and stand on the mount before Him. Elijah went, and the LORD passed by, and afterward, there was a strong and mighty wind that tore through the mountains, but the LORD was not in the wind because He had already passed by.

​

After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake either, and after the earthquake, a fire, which the LORD also was not in. What God was doing was demonstrating to Elijah His matchless power and how nothing is too hard for Him. The wind, earthquake, and fire occurred in order, the way God commanded, even though He was not in it. God is in control of all things everywhere, at all times. He also knows all. This is what He was reminding Elijah of.  

​

After the fire, there was a still small voice. God possibly called Elijah’s name because he had run back inside the cave for safety. When Elijah heard it, because of the dust and smoke, he covered his face with his mantle before he went and stood at the entrance of the cave. Again, the LORD asked Elijah why he was here. Elijah, as if he did not witness what God had just done, repeated the same exact thing he said the first time. When God speaks, He only says what is needed to be said. He does not waste any words. He knew Elijah, at this time, was heavily burdened down by Israel’s rebellion, and God will not put more on you than you can bear. There was no need for God to continue that conversation.

​

Instead, God gave Elijah what he should have come to seek God for: the solution to all his problems. He said for Elijah to go to Syria and anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, to anoint Jehu—a captain in the army of Israel—as king over Israel, and to anoint Elisha to be prophet after him. These three, God said, would kill all the rebellious house of Ahab the king of Israel and those who sought Elijah's life. Nevertheless, there were seven-thousand men in Israel whom God preserved because they did not bow down to Baal but remained faithful to God; so, Elijah was not the only one left as he concluded.

​

Even though you are walking in God’s will for your life, there are going to be difficult times. Weapons will be devised against you, but they will not prevent you from achieving God’s plans for you if you stay in the race. It is only natural to feel down at times, but you have to remember that the God that called you did not call you to leave you and that He can do exceedingly and abundantly above all you could ever ask or think. In fact, it's already done! Stay strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, and everything will be alright.