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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Friday, 26 September 2025:
1 Kings 19:1-2 — Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.”
After the great victory at Mount Carmel, Elijah might have expected revival in Israel. Instead, Jezebel threatens his life, and Ahab remains passive. This shows us that dramatic displays of God’s power do not always produce lasting repentance. The human heart often hardens further in rebellion. Elijah’s triumph is immediately followed by opposition, reminding us that spiritual victories are often met with renewed spiritual attacks.
1 Kings 19:3-4 — Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
Elijah, the bold prophet who faced Ahab and 450 prophets of Baal, now runs in fear and sinks into despair. He feels alone, exhausted, and ineffective. Jezebel must have been incredibly powerful and ruthless. What does it take for you to lose heart? Even God’s strongest servants can grow weary and discouraged. Elijah’s honesty shows us that faith is not the absence of struggle but continuing to bring our brokenness before God. Like Paul later confessed in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, sometimes we are burdened beyond strength so that we rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
In a time of total distress, Elijah ran to the Lord and was strengthened by God. Where do you turn during times like this?
1 Kings 19:5-8 — And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
God does not rebuke Elijah for his weakness; He ministers to him with rest, food, and renewal. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is rest, eat, and regain strength for the journey ahead. God knows our frame, that we are dust (Psalm 103:14), and He provides exactly what we need. Notice the food sustained Elijah for forty days, a reminder of Israel’s wilderness journey and of Christ’s forty days of fasting. God supplies not only daily bread but supernatural strength to endure.
God calls us to perform missions that are impossible for us under our own strength. He then provides what we cannot provide for ourselves. He does this to reveal Himself.
1 Kings 19:9-10 — There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
Elijah pours out his complaint before God, feeling alone and overwhelmed. His perspective is clouded by fear and exhaustion. In his eyes, all is lost, and his efforts have been in vain. But God is not finished with him. When we feel isolated and ineffective, God invites us to bring our honest burdens to Him. Lament is not unbelief; it is faith expressing itself in desperation, trusting that God still listens and still works.
1 Kings 19:10 – … I only, am left….
When you remain faithful to God while the world rejects God, you will feel alone, but you are not alone. Allow God to unite you with the body of believers.
1 Kings 19:11-12 — And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
God reveals Himself not in dramatic displays but in a gentle whisper. Elijah had seen fire fall from heaven, but now God shows that His work is not always in the spectacular. True transformation often happens quietly, through the steady work of His Spirit and His word. Zechariah 4:6 reminds us: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” God’s ways often subvert our expectations, teaching us that He works through weakness, gentleness, and hidden strength.
You must be ready to hear the whisper of God in the midst of the world’s turmoil. You cannot hear the whisper of God unless you are really listening, unless you are willing to go to places of silence for that very purpose. If you are caught up in the noise of the world and expecting God to shout over it to provide you His word for you, you should learn from Elijah. We tend to look for God through great miraculous acts but often miss that He speaks to us through His word in a low whisper. It seems that we are so wrapped up in the daily hustle and bustle of the world, so distracted, and so worried that we are never quiet and still enough to just listen.
1 Kings 19:13-14 — And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
Even after the whisper, Elijah repeats his complaint word for word. Discouragement doesn’t vanish instantly. God’s gentle voice has spoken, but Elijah is still processing. God’s patience is evident — He doesn’t reject Elijah for repeating himself but continues to guide him. This is a comfort: God does not abandon us when our faith is weak or our perspective clouded.
1 Kings 19:14 — …and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.
In his service to the Lord, Elijah had experienced incredible highs and lows, and now he is experiencing intense discouragement. Elijah had just called down fire from heaven, and now he is in fear for his life, feeling isolated and alone. Elijah’s focus had shifted from God to God’s enemies. Only God could comfort Elijah, and God did. When discouraged, get alone with God. Focus on Him, not on the turmoil around you or the turmoil within you – “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.” (Corrie Ten Boom)
1 Kings 19:15-18 — And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu … king over Israel. And Elisha … prophet in your place. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
God re-commissions Elijah, giving him new tasks and reminding him that he is not alone. The future of God’s work does not depend on one man. There are others — kings, prophets, and seven thousand faithful who have not bowed to Baal. Elijah thought he was the last, but God had preserved a remnant. Likewise, when we feel isolated in faith, God is always at work, sustaining His people and unfolding His plan. His kingdom does not hinge on our strength but on His sovereign purposes.
“You shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.” God places all kings in power for His purposes. If you want a different leader, go to God, but you may want to ask why God gave you the leader you have in the first place.
1 Kings 19:17 — And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death.
God’s anointed leaders wielded the sword as instruments of God’s sovereign plan.
1 Kings 19:18 — Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.
Though you may think no one remains totally committed to obedience to God anymore, you are wrong. God accounts for all His faithful and will take care of them. If you don’t see faithful people around you, you might be in the wrong place with the wrong people; you may be operating deep within enemy lines on a special mission from God, or you might not be paying close enough attention.
1 Kings 19:19-21 — So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat.… Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah.… Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
Elijah obeys and calls Elisha, who responds with total commitment, leaving behind his livelihood, slaughtering his oxen, and burning his plowing equipment. This radical act symbolizes full devotion, with no turning back. God’s answer to Elijah’s loneliness is community and succession, He gives him a companion and a successor to carry the mission forward. God’s work never ends with one person; He raises up new servants to continue His purposes.
Without notice, Elijah called Elisha to a new life as a Prophet of God, to change his entire life for God, to give up a profitable business to serve God. This was an unexpected, life changing moment. Elisha could not continue to live the life he had been living and follow God’s direction too. God’s plan for Elisha was far greater than Elisha’s plan for Elisha. Elisha was at the moment of decision: do I stay who I am (a decent, hardworking, respected, God fearing man) and build a good life for myself, or do I deny self and follow God wholeheartedly? Do I ask God to bless my life and what I am doing, or do I seek to know God’s plan and become a part of what He is already doing for His own glory? Elisha cut all ties with his former life and left himself no “Plan B” or “out option.” He was all in. Elisha made his choice — no turning back. His old life was over; he was all in for the Lord. Galatians 3:26-27 says: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” God threw the cloak of Christ on you, now, what will you do?
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 26 September 2025: 1 Kings 19 teaches us that spiritual highs are often followed by deep lows, and even the strongest saints can falter under fear and discouragement. But God meets us in our weakness, not with condemnation but with rest, renewal, and His gentle whisper. He reminds us that His work is not always in the spectacular but often in the quiet faithfulness of ordinary obedience. When you feel alone, weary, or ineffective, remember that God is still at work, that you are not as alone as you feel, and that His kingdom does not depend on you but on Him. Today, take time to rest in Him, listen for His whisper, and commit to faithful obedience even in small things.
Pray: “Father, thank You that You meet me in my weakness with patience and kindness. Forgive me for the times I have felt alone and forgotten, when I doubted Your purposes. Teach me to hear Your whisper above the noise of fear and distraction. Help me rest in Your provision, walk in simple obedience, and trust that You are always at work, even when I cannot see it. Give me strength to keep going and faith to believe that I am never alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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