The story of Elijah was that of a renowned man of God pestered by Ahab and Jezebel, the heartless king and queen of Israel. Elijah was a true, straight-forward prophet who would not compromise. He delivered God’s messages with accuracy. Ahab, however, was a powerful king who detested righteousness and truth. In the kingdom was a comrade in torture, in the person of Jezebel, his wife.  She was evil.

When Ahab shared with Jezebel how Elijah killed the false prophets with the sword, viperously, the evil queen of Israel sent a message to Elijah with the superficial flame of fire in her mouth, promising to deal ruthlessly with Elijah in the next twenty-four hours. She commanded the messenger to tell Elijah that “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them. 1 King, 19:2.” Hearing this message, Elijah was troubled, so he embarked on a life-saving journey. The following morning, he had walked substantial distance away from the evil dynasty. When he reached Beersheba, he left his servant and walked more distance. He got to a place, saw a Juniper tree, sat under it, and prayed that God might take his life. He said, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” Because he had a lot to do for God, God sent his angel to provide food for him. Twice God asked him “What are you doing here?” Was he sent to the wilderness to grumble? Was God intending to ridicule his name? Was He not seeing and hearing Jezebel and Ahab even in the corner of their room? “He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see? Psalms 94:9.” God was watching.

The significance of this is that there are instances when, by virtue of our thought and action, we conclude that our God is far from us. Why would a man of God run from a common creature? Why would an ordained prophet of God, sent to the treacherous ruler and his wife, be afraid of God’s creations (common mud)? Probably he was too afraid. One thing was evident; he was employed by God to do what he did. It is a known fact that God’s works done the godly way will always have God’s support. King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel had several days of fame, but shame gulped them when “the pit of hell swallowed them up.” They died the death of shame.

When we are resolute and very confident that the “Egyptians” shall only be around for a moment, God will do his work. He has never failed, and he will never fail. Whatever situation we find ourselves today, as long as we abstain from all appearances of sin, we shall overcome. When the enemies come like a flood, the spirit of God will raise up a standard against them. God is not far from us; he is near us. Rough roads may be ahead, but we are built to last. We shall overcome!