“And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God” (1 Kings 19:8 ESV).
After God had used Elijah to win the victory over Baal’s prophets on Mount Carmel, he had no doubt expected a revival to break out in Israel. Instead, he was left spiritually drained, discouraged, and afraid for his life by the renewed threats from Jezebel to kill him. He responded by fleeing South to the wilderness to be alone, praying that the Lord would take his life.
The Lord responded by sending an angel to give him food and drink, directing him to prepare for the journey ahead. For God was leading Elijah to climb another mountain, Mount Horeb, which is Mount Sinai, the place where God had met with Moses and given him the Law. This was to be a different kind of mountaintop experience for Elijah. For instead of the great spectacle before a crowd on Mount Carmel, raining fire down from heaven and strengthening Elijah to outrun a chariot, God would sustain him to endure a 40-day fast and speak to him alone in a gentle whisper on Mount Sinai.
Have you ever experienced the two kinds of spiritual mountaintops that Elijah did? Christ certainly did. For He was welcomed on Mount Zion by crowds waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna!” But before the week was over, He was carrying a cross up Mount Calvary with the shouts of “Crucify him!” still ringing in His ears. The first mountain looked like a victory, but it was actually on the second one that the true victory was won!
PRAYER: Our Father, help us not to seek mountaintop experiences, but to always seek You instead. For we tend to misunderstand what You are doing on the mountain and we often become discouraged as we journey through the valleys in between. Strengthen and sustain us, O Lord. Give us direction, and with it, both the will and the working power to always follow You. In Jesus’ name, amen.