He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
God has just spoken to Elijah in a gentle whisper, and now He asks a second time what the prophet is doing there. Elijah gives back the same complaint, word for word — and that answer, which sounds so faithful, is the problem.
The Same Answer After the Whisper
God asks, and gets the same words back. One writer weighs what that gentle voice was, and what the reply exposed.
H. L. RossierThis soft gentle voice was that of grace. It is in grace that God has revealed Himself in the fullness of His being to poor sinners like ourselves. The God who reveals Himself this way asks His question again, to probe the prophet to the very depth: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Elijah makes the same reply. He had had time to reflect; he lays bare what is in his heart. Whom does he credit with good? Himself. Whom does he accuse? The people of God. In a word it is an orderly accusation, a case pleaded against Israel, and a speech in praise of Elijah.
Three Things the Words Reveal
One writer counts three faults in the complaint. Watch the second one — these same people had just helped Elijah kill the priests of Baal.
The Bible TreasuryDoes he humble himself, confessing his lack of faithfulness, courage and faith? No. His language is that of self-elevation and accusing others. That is always the case when a believer leaves the path of obedience and refuses to judge himself and confess his sin. These words betrayed his unhappy state of soul in three ways. First, self-exaltation. Second, unjust accusation against God's people, whom he charges with idolatry and with persecuting God's prophets. Why, they had just turned away from their idols and returned to the true and living God, and helped the prophet kill the priests of Baal. Third, a complete lack of fellowship with God's faithful remnant in Israel. There were seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed their knees to Baal, and Elijah did not know one of them.
Praying Against His Own People
The New Testament looks back at this moment. One writer sets Elijah's words beside those of Moses.
W. W. FeredayBeing taken up with himself led Elijah to hold very improper feelings toward the erring people of God around him. "Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?" (Rom. 11:2). Intercession against Israel! Speaking well of himself and ill of God's people! Is this the true role of God's witness?… Moses spoke very differently. It is refreshing to listen to his moving prayer to God for Israel after they worshipped the golden calf (Ex. 32, 33). He kept reminding the Lord that they were His people, despite their grave sin, and that the honour of His great name was bound up with their blessing. Rather than see them overthrown, he was willing that God should blot him out of the book He had written.
The Seven Thousand He Never Met
Not seeing them was itself a failure. One writer links Elijah's blindness to his self-focus — and then turns it on us.
William KellyElijah failed there, and in failing there he failed God. These seven thousand were very precious to God. Yet Elijah had not seen one of them, did not know one of them, did not suspect that one of them existed. If Elijah had not thought so much about himself, he would have seen some of these seven thousand before. It is the same with ourselves… We must not forget that there are those we do not see, those we do not meet. We must leave room for them in our hearts, in our faith. We must carry them on our soul before God.
Grace and Government Together
God holds Elijah up and hands his post to another. Grace and government run side by side.
A J PollockGrace would strengthen the prophet. Government accepted the resignation that Elijah handed in to God. The prophet feared death at the hands of a wicked woman. Grace would take him to heaven in a whirlwind — chariot and horsemen of fire — without dying at all… Government directed Elijah to anoint Elisha in his place.
When You Think the Work Depends on You
The same mistake returns whenever a few faithful people look like the last ones left.
Hamilton SmithOur own day grows more corrupt, and our outlook is small. How often we imagine that the work of God depends on one or two devoted and faithful servants of the Lord! We think that once they are gone all testimony for the Lord will cease. We have to learn that though servants pass, God remains. He has other servants in preparation for His service. And, unknown to us, God has His hidden ones who have not bowed down to prevailing evils.
Summary
- "Left" alone. Elijah's whole case rests on one word — he says he is the only one left. God answers with the same word and a number: seven thousand.
- Left, so accusing. Taken up with himself, he praises himself and blames God's people. He prays against Israel, not for it — the opposite of Moses.
- Left, so blind. The seven thousand were real and precious to God. Elijah knew none of them, because he was watching himself.
- Left, so replaced. Grace strengthens him and takes him to heaven. God's government hands his place to Elisha.
- Never left alone. Servants pass, God remains — and He always has hidden ones who have not bowed to the evils around them.