Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Monday, November 26, 2012 Read –1 Kings 19 & 20 The story we read in chapter 19 is connected with the story of the contest with Baal in chapter 18. The two chapters need to be read together. God is the clear winner in the contest on Mount Carmel, yet Elijah’s life is quickly in danger. Jezebel is not pleased! And, Jezebel is intent on killing Elijah on that very day. Elijah flees into the wilderness. The flight of Elijah into the wilderness is a very important story. First of all his destination is crucial. Elijah flees back to Horeb which is the same mountain we have known as Sinai. This is the place where Moses is called and where God gives the Ten Commandments to Israel. On the one hand the story tells us that Elijah is fleeing into the wilderness for safety from Jezebel. But underlying that reason is another. Elijah is fleeing back to the source of the nation of Israel. Any wilderness would have done for getting away from Jezebel, but his is a particular wilderness – the place where God called his people and made a great covenant with them. The story of Elijah’s journey is one of receiving provision from God’s hand – bread in the wilderness much like the people receiving Manna. The wilderness journey of God’s people is remembered in this story. And so is the temptation of Jesus for Christians. While on the mountain Elijah re-encounters God. The vehicle for God’s presence is significant. How does God appear? In a wind so strong that it breaks rocks in pieces? In an earthquake that shakes the ground? In a mighty fire that devours everything in its path? God is not in any of these things. God appears in sheer silence. God asks Elijah what he is doing there. Elijah appears to feel sorry for himself claiming that he is the only faithful one left. He is not. And God re-commissions Elijah for his work as a prophet. He is to return to the danger of Ahab and Jezebel and do God’s work. He is also to anoint his successor, Elisha, who will carry on God’s work. Elijah is obedient. Chapter 20 returns the reader to the story of Ahab and his wars with the Arameans.