Chapter Twelve/He Took Comfort in His God

 

Elijah ran through the rain as the darkness deepened.  He had a long way to go before he would reach Jezreel, and he was no young man. Yet, he ran on tirelessly, for "the very hand of Jehovah " was upon him.  The energy coursing through his bodyt was surely unlike any he had ever known.  Why, he had outpaced the team of horses that was pulling King Ahab in his royal chariot! - 1 KINGS 18:46.

Now the open road lay before him. Imagine Elijah blinking the raindrops from his eyes as he ran, thinking back over the most eventful day of his life. Without question, it was a glorious victory for Elijah's God, Jehovah, and for true worship. Far behind him, lost in the gloom of the storm, lay the windswept heights of Mount Carmel, where Jehovah had used Elijah to stike a mighty and miraculous blow against Baal worship.  Hudreds of Baal prophets were exposed as wicked frauds and justly executed.  Then Elijah prayed to Jeghovah for an end to the drought that afflicted the land for three and half years.  The rains fell! - 1 KINGS 18:18-45.

As Elihag splashed along those 19 miles (30 km) to Jezreel, hopes might have been high. It may have seemed to him that a real turning point had come at last. Ahab would have to change! After what he had witnesses, surely he had no choice but to abandon Baal worship' to restrain his queen,  Jezebel and to stop the persecution of Jehovah's servants. 

When things seem to be going our way, it is only natural that our hopes rise.  We may imagine that our lot in life will continue to improve, perhaps even thinkin that our worst problems are finally behind us.  If Elijah thought that way, no wonder, for he "was a man with feelings like ours." (James 5:17)   Actually, though, Elijah's problems were far from over.  In fact, within two hours Elijah would be so fearful, so low in spirits, that he would wish to die. What happened, and how did Jehova help his propet to renew his faith and his courage?  Let us see.

Next time: Chapter Twelve/ He Took Confort in His God - An Unexpected Turn of Events

From the jw.org publications