….”SEEING” YOURSELF AS ELIJAH DID
…………..(by Dr. Robin Starbuck)
1 Kings 19:1-3 KJV 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 Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
Elijah had obediently followed God’s word regarding Baal worshippers and killed 450- 850 of them. But then he got haughty and believed himself better than others. Meanwhile Jezebel the Queen heard what Elijah had done and sent a messenger telling him she would make him like one of the dead ones that he had killed. Elijah “SAW” (19:3) himself as dead and panicked. So, first he was doing God’s will perfectly, then became proud of his mighty accomplishment and missed accomplishing the other two things that God wanted him to do. People do this all the time: they see themselves sick, dejected, divorced, impoverished. Elisha had to take over and anoint the king of Israel and of Syria. Anytime you get lifted up with pride you are headed for failure. When you are at your strongest in yourself and your own ability you are your weakest because you tend to trust in yourself. He accomplished everything God wanted until he used his imagination negatively. He saw himself failing instead of obeying God. (Proverbs 16:18 KJV) “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”