1 Kings 19:1-21 KJV
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

Time of passing the torch is often handing down the leadership because it beyond one's own ability to fight. Elijah was a point he could take no more. He was ready to die, when he heard the decree of the leaders desiring all the prophets be killed. I not sure how many of us would not of tried to escape the murdering of God's prophets, but I guarantee many believers would of been watching all that was going on around them. There land no longer the land of freedom by the king of Israel as in the time of King David and Solomon. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were just plain evil toward God's people and especially godly leaders.

When people began to flee especially notable prophets like Elijah it tells the world they fear not God more then their leaders. I be honest, to show fear, or any negative emotion before a leaders is not becoming of any prophet, or minister of faith. We have to understand the place for the law and the place of our faith. Our faith being superior to the laws of government that plot evil against the people of faith. Leaders like kings who worship God and honor God are our brothers and sister of faith.

Elijah could not even go to Jezebel and say this is the land of Israel these are our laws and our people especial our prophets are protected by that law. You get a non believer in Jesus in office of our land, you can demand the law of our faith be protect by the laws of our land. If those laws be not protected then we need to stand firm in our faith and trust God to do a work in our time the world has not seen in many of years in our own land. The sad thing about our laws even false prophets and leaders are allowed to rise up even in our own neighborhoods without restriction, unless it cause harm to others.

Our freedom cost us something far greater then our founding fathers would ever understand. Yet Christians today understand but are thankful they can still fight with the laws of our land to keep peace between groups of people. Yet the best fight comes with spiritual warfare through prayer and obedience to God in all matters concerning faith. If we can only grasp right now the spiritual fight must be through prayer and not a sword of steel but the sword of the Spirit then our faith will not only win, but it will be victorious in our land, because of who our God is.

Elijah is trying to escape his demise from Queen Jezebel. He goes out into the wilderness running for only a day and falls asleep under a juniper tree. God's protection is still in Elijah life, and so angel of the Lord come and beckons him to eat three times, Elijah then goes on in the strength of the food for forty days to Mount Horeb. He enters a cave when God speaks to him. Asking him why is he at Mount Horeb? Here God has made sure he was feed for his journey and now wants to know why he there?

First of all Elijah there because he running from what he fears will happen to him for Jezebel wants to see him and she killed all of his prophetic friends. There no people of faith in the land left because of this. God allowed several storms to come upon Elijah but God was not in those storms. Then God's still small voice tells Elijah he has 7000 people that have not bowed to Baal(Jezebel god). Then sends him on a mission to anoint not only a new King Jehu, but also a new Prophet Elisha. God is able to raise up men for not only his military but for his ministry. God did need Elijah he had 7000 men that had not bow to Baal, had not run like a scaried cat.

There is a time to leave situations and time to stand our ground. Elijah compares himself early on in this passage to his father, but we know not his father or what he did but we imagine he ran away to, to hide to protect himself and perhaps even his family. We know nothing about his father, but we do know that the prophetic line came sometimes from one generation to the next and sometimes it did not. Elijah had stood strong all his life until now and it had caused him to reflect on the humanity of his father. His running only caused God to help turn him around in the direction he needed to go and strengthen him with physical food but with knowledge to keep running. On the mountain Elijah spiritual testimony of being in the Lord's presence to not only testify of it for we have a record in scripture but also testimony of the encouragement given to not be afraid but to obey the Lord for he had army he was raising up. God would send Elijah to anoint the next King son and a new prophet. God was allowing Elijah to run, but not to escape from the problem but sent him headed straight into an area his people were and they were ready to fight.

Where can we go from the enemy and where can we go from God's Spirit who wants to put us in a fight with the enemy. Elijah had already killed Jezebel prophets. We can not get out of running until we grasp the power of God. God had already used Elijah to defeat one enemy he only had Ahab and Jezebel to go and their army. Why was Elijah running. The battle was hard, but perhaps Elijah had not had time to reflect on what God had done in his life already. That time of those storms around him only could of reminded him of some of the battle field he gone through that was not of God, but his victory being of God. Reflection on the mountaintop covered in a cave. Sometimes we need the cave experience to help us see the light outside shining in the valley below. Sometimes we need to climb to the top to look at what God is doing, not what we are able to do on our own but what God is doing in our mist.

Do not be dismayed after the first battle, be prepare to stand and obey the Lord in the rest of the battle for he will strength you to fight the enemy of our spiritual faith with the sword of his word not the sword or fist of our strength. The Christian warfare is not with weapons of military war but spiritual war with God's Spirit leading us on in submission to God in the spiritual fight of faith in those around us. Let us pray in the heat of the battle of physical body, mind and spirit.

Dear Heavenly Father, you ask why was Elijah there, he understood not his victory, but you should him the war he was in was not of you, but the battle before him would be won by you. Help us to stand in faith believing knowing the battle might not be won yet but victory is definitely of you. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: 1 John 5:4-5 KJV
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Ephesians 6:10-18 KJV
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;