You are Not the Only One Left

‘…I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The LORD said to him,…yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (1 kings 19:14 - 18).

One would have thought that after Elijah had challenged Ahab and his false prophets, and the power of God had been manifested so strongly at Mount Carmel, leading to four hundred and fifty false prophets being disgraced and slaughtered by him, Elijah would have been at the zenith of his ministry and his faith in God. On the contrary, he fled from Sinai; he was on the run to Horeb due to Jezebel’s threats. He feared for of his life.

In the journey of life, we sometimes get to points when we are overwhelmed with our calling as a result of fatigue, fear, the opposition of men and other storms of life. Elijah had been zealous for God in his calling and had stood for the truth, like many of us. However, at this point in his life he was not where God wanted him to be, he was on his way to Horeb, against God’s will. God’s question to him was, “What are you doing here, Elijah? (1 Kings 19:9).  ‘It seems he was so moved with fear to get away from Jezebel that he did not inquire of God what to do. The Lord could have protected him without him going all the distance to Mount Horeb and then back North to Syria’ (Fenis Dake). 

Sometimes under pressure we intentionally neglect God’s guidance, only to go our own way, knock our head against a brick and go right back to where we started from, now to seek God and avail ourselves for His direction. Even though God in His mercy always restores us when we repent, we miss great opportunities to grow in faith and be blessed. Consequently, we make our journey to our destination (God’s purpose) longer and more wearisome. God in his mercy sent a word to Elijah while he was fleeing to Horeb.  Today He still uses our inner convictions, dreams, circumstances and other people to warn us and get us back on track when we are straying from His will and purposes. A Christian who prays with a sincere heart and an open mind always receives God’s direction, no matter what the challenges are. 

After God asked Elijah ‘What are you doing here?’ his responds was, ‘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’. God’s response was, ‘I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him’. (1 kings 19:14 - 18).

The main lesson here is that, you are not alone. There are many Christians who have made your journey successfully in the past. There are others who are making successful journeys very similar to yours presently. ‘What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun’ (Eccl 1:9). If you are to give up on God’s purpose and throw in the towel today, God will easily replace you with another person.  If you don’t want rocks to praise God and donkeys to prophecy in your place, then wake up (Numbers 22:28-30, Luke 19:40). Your work is not done, seek God’s face, renew your strength and carry on with your assignment. The journey is not over. No matter the fatigue, fear and the opposition of men, it’s not over until God says is over. Remember, Jesus grew weary and nearly gave up on His purpose, but after He prayed unto His heavenly father, angels were sent to strengthen Him and He was able to carry on (Luke 22:42-43).

‘Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength…’(Isaiah 40:30-31). You are not the only one left.