1 Kings 19:14
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.
In the cave at Horeb God asked Elijah what he was doing there, and this was his answer in weariness and discouragement during his flight from Jezebel's threat, a journey he had taken without the divine command that had sent him to Cherith and Sarepta and Samaria. He declared his jealous zeal for the Lord God of hosts by charging that Israel had forsaken God's covenant, thrown down His altars, and slain His prophets with the sword. He added that he alone was left and they sought his life to take it away, believing himself the only faithful one remaining and in mortal danger from the persecution. His count was mistaken, for God had preserved seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed to Baal. The history teaches that even a faithful prophet can yield to despondency and unbelief after great victories, yet God in mercy does not forsake His discouraged servant, and His people must trust wholly in the Lord and remain in the way of duty rather than flee from fear.
Elijah's Complaint at Horeb
The words are Elijah's answer when God asks him what he is doing there, in the cave at Horeb during his retreat and flight from Jezebel's threat, weary and discouraged. A mighty angel met him there to inquire about his needs and to make clear God's purpose for Israel. His long journey into the wilderness was not commanded like his sendings to the brook Cherith and to the widow of Sarepta and to Samaria with a message to Ahab.
He declares his jealous zeal for the Lord God of hosts by charging that the children of Israel have forsaken God's covenant, thrown down His altars, and slain His prophets with the sword. He adds that he, even he only, is left and they seek his life to take it away, believing he alone remained faithful and had escaped Jezebel's persecution while his life was in danger. His words express fear, a sense of isolation, and the severity of the persecution against God's faithful prophets.
The complaint follows his failure of faith after standing alone for God on Mount Carmel against idolatry and seeing rain return after three and a half years of famine and watching for repentance. He had hoped the display of God's power over Baal's prophets would bring reform and testified to showers of blessing waiting for Israel. But Jezebel's threat left him deeply discouraged, fearful, and lacking confidence, so in weariness and weakness he fled and, alone in the desert, prayed to die, which cut short the work he had begun. His claim to be the only one on the Lord's side was mistaken and his count was incomplete, for God told him and showed him that He had preserved seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed to or worshiped Baal.
Correction and Lessons for Faith
God answered the complaint by showing that wrongdoers would not always escape punishment and directing Elijah to appoint three persons to carry out judgment against idolatrous Israel. Because fear and discouragement had cut short the work he had begun, God bade him anoint another to be prophet in his stead, so that work he was not to complete. That failure of faith cut short his life-work after faithful warning against national idolatry and three years and a half of watching for repentance during famine.
The history teaches that God's people may face difficulty, trials, and discouragement, yet each person must trust wholly and quietly in the Lord rather than human wisdom. Quiet trust and firm reliance, with patient and prayerful confidence, will always find God a present help in time of need and allow His power to be displayed. They are to remain in the way of duty and keep to their duty, and not let fear discourage them, for God is their defense and they are to wait for Him to display His power. Elijah needed that whole trust in God before he could continue his work for those led into Baal worship.
Others should not take over burdens God means the tried one to bear or come between God and those He is testing.
The episode shows that even a faithful prophet can become despondent and in weariness and weakness yield to human weakness and error and let go of faith. Even once yielding brings shame and loss, for sin can bring only shame and loss and unbelief means failure. Yet God meets His servant in need, having marked his heart-service and faithful service, and in mercy did not leave him to perish in discouragement and solitude in the wilderness. He honored him by giving him ascent with God's angels to the presence of His glory instead of descent to the tomb, so that he did not die in the wilderness. His mercy reaches to the deepest depths, and faith lifts up the repenting soul to share the adoption of the sons of God.
Elijah's claim that he alone remained and his sense of being alone did not mean that no faithful people were left, for God had preserved seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed to or worshiped Baal. His count was incomplete. This serves as a pattern for the remnant of faithful Israelites preserved by God's grace. The verse warns against trying to count God's faithful people and calls for tender sympathy and concern for the salvation of the lost.