Elijah. In our reading yesterday he was riding high; today, he was totally defeated, praying that God kill him so Jezebel couldn’t. (I Kings 18, 19) One day he has no doubts, chiding the prophets of Baal, confidently doing his part in the demonstration of the power of God, and personally slaying all those aforementioned prophets. The very next he’s running like a terrorized cottontail, not only into the next country (Judah), but clear to Mt. Horeb. Sadly, humanly, his faith had failed. Doubt and fear reigned where they didn’t even exist twenty-four hours before.
Elijah. “Are you he who should come, or do we look for another?” John the Baptist, the Elijah prophesied to come before Jesus Christ and pave the way, now imprisoned, had doubts. Jesus encouraged him by sending his, John’s, disciples back to tell of the messianic things they had seen. John hadn’t failed. He’d done his job and, now, the Messiah was doing his. God’s plan was, well, going according to plan.
God had encouraged Elijah as well, telling him he was not alone. God had reserved to himself seven thousand men in Israel who had never bowed down to Baal.
Doubt is a killer. Doubt destroys faith. How much does it take? Apparently not much. Elijah doubted God would protect hom from Jezabel and was totally overcome by fear. Doubt and fear. If you have doubt, fear is going to come. If you have fear, you already doubt.
Just one day before Elijah had seen the power of God up close and personal. Still he doubted.
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