CROWNED | 1 Kings Chapter 19
- Jul 2
- 4 min read
Week 4 / Day 19
Written by Rae Johnson
INTRODUCTION
In today’s passage, we will be reading of 4 key players:
Elijah - The same prophet of God who prophesied to King Ahab of the coming drought in 1 Kings 17 and who confronted King Ahab in 1 Kings 18, declaring the king and his family had brought trouble upon Israel by abandoning the Lord’s commandments and following Baal.
Ahab - The seventh king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel who is known primarily for his idolatry and wickedness. 1 Kings 16:30 even goes as far as to state that he “did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.”
Jezebel - Ahab’s wicked wife and a queen remembered for her devotion to the worship of pagan gods and persecution of the Prophets of the Lord. As a native Sidonian, she was instrumental in the deep implementation of worship to Baal in her new land, Israel.
Elisha - A farmer who was chosen by God to replace Elijah as prophet and whose 60-year ministry is characterized by acts of healing, provision, and challenging corrupt kings.
One other quick thing of note:
You will read in verse 8 that Elijah went to Mount Horeb. If that name sounds familiar to you, BRAVO! Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai) is the mountain where the Hebrew people entered into a covenant with God after being delivered from slavery in Egypt (Deut. 5:2) and also where God spoke with Moses, giving him the 10 Commandments (Exodus 19 & 20).
Why two distinctly different names for the same location? It all comes down to the word preference of the author, much in the same way that one group of people say “shopping cart” while others will say “shopping buggy”. Two different words but with the same meaning. This mountain is also often referred to as the “Mountain of God” or “Mountain of the Lord.”
READ
Now go ahead and read 1 Kings 19, if you haven’t done so already.
REFLECT
To briefly recap what we just read: After killing the 450 prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel, Elijah has a hit put on his life by King Ahab’s crazy wife, Jezebel, prompting Elijah to quite literally run for his life. While fleeing, an angel of the Lord appears to him and encourages him to eat a snack and take a nap. After his little desert siesta, in which the lord provided food to sustain him for the rest of his journey, Elijah continued on to Mount Horeb, where he stayed until the Lord called him out of the cave, instructing him to return to Israel in order to anoint Hazael king of Syria, Jehu King of Israel, and Elisha a prophet of God.
There is so much packed into these 21 verses. I mean, who doesn’t love a story where the Lord’s answer to a problem is literally, “take a nap and have a snack”?!?! But tucked into the folds of this story are some incredible glimpses into the character of God.
Let’s look more closely at verses 9 - 15 to see what I mean.
It is in these verses that we read of the Lord asking Elijah “Why are you in this cave?” Clearly, the Lord knows the answer to the question - Elijah is there out of desperation, exhaustion, and fear. However, God’s question is not a harsh reprimand, but a gentle invitation to unpack his grief. We know this because, upon hearing Elijah’s answer, which was full of frustration and grief, the Lord responds in verse 11 by saying: “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.”
As he does chaos seemingly erupts around him as violent winds shatter the rocks, a powerful earthquake shakes the ground, and a ranging fire sweeps through, but God is not in any of the chaos. Instead, God manifests himself in a “still, small voice”, or, as some translations put it, in the “sound of sheer silence.” (1 Kings 19:11-12)
These seemingly dramatic signs were not intended to scare Elijah, but were, instead, a supernatural showing of divine comfort and reassurance. By speaking through a gentle whisper God taught Elijah then, and us today, that his power operates through quiet restoration and enduring purpose, not just spectacular displays of destruction. In fact, His sustaining presence and grace are found in quiet intimacy, gentle renewal, and steady faithfulness, rather than just the dramatic miracles Elijah’s life and ministry had, up to this point, been marked by. In other words, God isn’t just in the big loud moments of dramatic victory, He’s also in the quiet moments of restful renewal.
Ultimately, instead of granting Elijah’s request to die (verse 4), God gives him a new mission and a renewed spirit! Reminding Him that his work isn’t finished and the Lord’s grace and faithfulness had not ended.
RESPOND
Have you ever found yourself feeling like Elijah - exhausted, discouraged, or overwhelmed? I think we all have! But today we are reminded that God met Elijah with REST before giving him direction. Are there areas of your life where you need to slow down and rest IN Him, allowing God to restore you before tackling that “next thing” FOR Him?
The Lord spoke to Elijah in a gentle whisper rather than through the wind, earthquake, or fire. Are you making space in your daily life to hear God’s quiet voice, or are the noise and busyness of life drowning it out?
After a time of refreshing with the Lord, God gave Elijah a new assignment. After spending time with Him, ask yourself - What step of obedience or renewed purpose do I sense God may be calling me to take?
Is there a loss, unmet expectation, or season of grief that has caused you to withdraw like Elijah in the cave? Have you allowed grief to make you feel isolated or forgotten? If that’s you, I encourage you to trust God’s presence even when you can’t see what He is doing! There may be a sense of security and refuge in the cave, but the Lord has not called you to a life of isolation. Just as He called Elijah out of the cave, He is calling you as well. Would you be willing to take that bold step out of the cave and simply listen for God’s gentle voice today?
I felt this deeply today. While when reading I personally took something from vs 19-21, you opened my eyes to the reason God was not in the chaos. These last couple months have seemed to be chaos, but one thing was constant, God was there; his word and prayer. It wasn’t always easy, but it was there. And even when we don’t realize it, he’s working. When we least expect it; prayers are answered and often not in the way we anticipate. But it wasn’t in the chaos he was moving, it was in those quiet intimate times with our father!
Thank you!
What I cherish most about this series is the profound insights it offers, coupled with thought-provoking questions. I eagerly anticipate not only reading the words but also gaining a much deeper understanding. Additionally, I eagerly anticipate the desert on Sunday morning, which ties everything together. Thank you for all the hard work and thoughtful contributions that go into creating this remarkable series.