Bible Commentaries

The slaughter of the prophets of Baal aroused the ire of Jezebel to such a degree that she sent a direct message full of fury to Elijah. There is no escaping the sadness of his attitude on receiving this threat. The man who had stood erect in the presence of tremendous odds now fled for his life. Full of great beauty is the story of God's method with His overwrought and fearful servant. He first ministered to Elijah's physical need, and then patiently listened to the complaint of his troubled heart, answering that by a revelation of Himself to the prophet. It was a new revelation. Elijah was a man of fire and thunder, and we can quite understand how strange it must have been to him to find that God was in "the sound of gentle stillness."

God ever reveals Himself to men according to their need. To rouse His prophet He is the God of thunder and flame. To comfort his bruised heart He is the God of the still small voice. Nevertheless, Elijah was rebuked for his want of faith, and told that God had reserved seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal. He was then commanded to a strange new work, to anoint Hazael to be king of Syria, Jehu to be king of Israel, and Elisha to succeed himself.

Did he ever fulfil these commissions? We have no record of his having done so. The nearest approach was casting his mantle on Elisha. Perhaps the oft debated question cannot be definitely decided, but it is evident that from this time of faith's failure he was largely set aside. Only once or twice again does he appear.