Three years ago, he came down from the hills and strode boldly into the kings throne room and stated that there would be no rain, period! What a dramatic way to challenge the false god of Baal, who supposedly promoted fertility. But today? Today was a major winner for Elijah! Let’s make a list:
1. Challenged false prophets and won by calling fire down from heaven and the true God.
2. Participating in the execution of over 800 false prophets.
3. Prayed for rain and got a huge downpour.
4. Ran in front of king Ahab’s chariot through the rain for a distance longer than today’s full marathons!
Boy, Elijah was totally on a faith high, wasn’t he? Yeah, how could he pack that many miracles and drama into one day? God had truly used Elijah to exercise His power! While he was cooling down after the long run, Ahab was telling his wife all about his day. When she heard that all of the prophets (her prophets) had been executed, she sent a message to Elijah that she would kill him within one day! Of course, Elijah, faith champion that he was, went directly to the palace and……. well, actually-
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; 1 Kings 19
Okay, now wait just a minute! Didn’t he just have the best day of his career as a prophet? Hadn’t he and his worship of the true God been vindicated before the entire nation? Didn’t he win? Didn’t he have the most dramatic evidence ever of God’s power in his life? He had no excuse at all to doubt, did he?
Do you remember that text that talks about the tiny amount of faith needed?
He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. Luke 17
That’s a famous text in which Jesus is talking about faith to His disciples. But, do you know what happened right before that?
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
Yeah, that’s right! The disciples finally got one thing right! No, actually two. They realized that they needed more faith. Good. So do I! But here’s the kicker- they finally figured out where to get it! We can’t self-generate faith! It comes from God. We just need to ask Him for it and keep pointed toward Him to receive it!
Are there discouraging things happening in your life right now? Job problems, family problems, money problems? Just remember that if Elijah could have a faith failure, If Elijah could stumble even after a day like he had, it’s not so amazing that we become discouraged and lose faith, is it?
Father, I feel my failing faith! You are both the object and the source of my faith! Gift me with enough to move my mole hill or mountain today!