Isolation in Ministry Part 1

In 1 Kings 18, the Prophet of God has just demonstrated that the true God of Israel is more powerful than the false god Baal. Elijah put 400 prophets of Baal to the sword. In the text, he is bold and taunts the other prophets, saying, ““Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed.”

Wow, this man of God stood up to the enemy with boldness and in the power of the Lord. Verse 46 says, “The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.”

Yet, when we turn the page to chapter 19, everything changes. Verse one says, “Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “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.”

That should mean nothing to a man full of the Lord who just demonstrated God's power over the false god Ball. But that is not what the text says in verse 3a: “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.”

Then the text tells us that “He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.”

Do you hear Elijah’s words, “I have had enough, Lord.” Then he laid down under a broom brush and fell asleep. I would say from the text that Elijah is struggling with depression.

But how could that be, considering everything that just happened? How could he feel this way when he saw God's supremacy demonstrated so powerfully in chapter 18? Because he lost being with God in doing for God.

We have been studying Emotional Healthy Discipleship in church. The key to the study is that we have become so busy doing church, teaching people about God, and serving Him that we have lost our personal connection with Him.

That is precisely what happened to Elijah and many people today who are involved in ministry. They become burned out from too much doing and not enough being with God. I know from personal experience that we can be so busy doing that we have no time for being in His presence, and then we begin to decline mentally.

Notice that in the middle of Elijah’s crisis, he fled and isolated himself from everyone, even his servants. When we become spiritually drained, we withdraw as the depression sets in.

But in the midst of his torment and depression, God stepped in. Verse 5b says, “All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” Verse 7, “The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”

God sent help when Elijah needed it the most. The key is for us to recognize when God is reaching out to help us. We have to set aside our pride and be willing to accept His help.

Then Elijah goes on a long journey. 40 days and 40 nights of walking to reach Horeb, the mountain of God. But, even in this moment, after God has feed him twice, Elijah is still in the pit of despair.

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

Next time, we will see how the story ends… See you then.

TTFN