1 Kings 19:1

1 Kings 19:1 says, And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.  Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including his killing all the prophets of Baal.  If we had been following a false god, and someone told us about a man of the true God killing all the prophets of the false god, how would we react?  I would think that we might react by accepting the true God, but Jezebel didn't.  Verse two adds, Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto 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 to morrow about this time.  Jezebel said let the gods kill her if she didn't take Elijah's life by about this time the next day.  She ignored the fact that four-hundred and fifty prophets of those gods had failed to defeat Elijah.  Some people are always going to see themselves as more power than God in spite of all the evidence to the contrary.  Mathew Henry said he wasn't sure why she didn't kill him then or why she warned him unless it was out of s feeling of self-pride or self-importance, but she didn't immediately try to kill him.  There are still too many people today who believe themselves to be more powerful than God.  Verse three adds, And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.  When Elijah heard this, he fled for his life.  He seemed to still not truly trust God to keep him safe, since we are not told that God told him to flee.  He went to Beersheba in Judah and left his servant there.  I am not sure when he acquired a servant, but our status in the world often changes.  We should never run away in fear if we are called on to stand for God.  Verse four states, But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.  Elijah didn't stay in Beersheba but went a day's journey into the wilderness where he sat down under a juniper tree in self-pity.  He told God to just let him die since he was no better than his fathers, or ancestors.  Elijah was running from the death threat of Jezebel to a death request by God's hand.  We as Christians should never run from death threats in the world by asking God to kill us himself, but we should always run to life in Jesus Christ.  We should never allow fear and despair to overcome our faith in God to keep us safe as we do His will in our life.  Verse five adds, And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.  While Elijah was sleeping under the juniper tree, having given up, I believe, an angel came and touched him and told him to get up and eat.  As followers of Christ, if we are ready to give up in despair, I believe the Holy Spirit, Who is much greater than an angel, will touch us and tell us to get up and eat, or go on with our life.  Verse six continues, And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.  When Elijah looked, there was a cake baking in the coals and a cruse of water at his head.  These had been provided by God, and should have revived Elijah's faith, but he ate and lay down again.  If God provides for our needs in times of despair, this should make us want to get up and get busy doing what He has called us to do instead of just staying spiritually asleep.  Verse seven says, And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.   While Elijah was sleeping again, the angel came too him a second time and told him to get up and eat but added that the journey was great for Elijah.  God does not expect His people to be asleep in self-pity, and again, I don't believe the Holy Spirit will just leave us alone if we are.  We will always be called to action for God, and if we are faithful, God will provide for our needs as we do what He has called us to do.  Verse eight adds, And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.  Elijah did as the angel told him to do and ate, and the food sustained him on a forty-day journey to Horeb the mountain of God.  God will always sustain us if we are obeying His call, and we don't have to go to a particular place to meet Him.  As Christians, the Holy Spirit is always with us to equip and empower us.