Elijah's Ministry During Ahab's Reign

God's prophets were people like us. They had weaknesses, fears and struggles at times like ours that often appear after great acts of faith.

Elijah became afraid, discouraged and disillusioned, when after defeating the prophets of Baa, Jezebel threatened his life. He ran far south for safety, completely out of the area of the Northern Kingdom that her and Ahab were reigning over.

He pleads for his death by God's hand rather than face the possibility of Jezebel carrying out her death threat against him. Instead, God graciously and supernaturally provided for his life. In effect, God would answer his prayer uniquely after he finishes up his ministry. But first, there was to be the transition for the prophetic ministry to be passed to Elisha, his successor.

Lessons from this study include:

1. Most godly people can become fearful & discouraged.
2. God graciously & lovingly provides for His discouraged servants.
3. Sometimes our service for the Lord seems futile & ineffective - we can't measure our ministry.
4. Sometimes we may be tempted to think we're all alone in our ministry.
5. God is a God of promise, power & majesty.
6. God condescends to speak in a loving way.
7. Ultimately God will defeat all His enemies.
8. The Lord's work does not stand or fall with us.