Now [King] Ahab told [Queen] Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the [false] prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life … — 1 Kings 19:1-3
In the showdown between the LORD and Baal, the LORD clearly won — fire fell, the people were convinced, rain came, and Elijah ran ahead of Ahab back to Jezreel.
But, if Elijah was expecting a hero’s welcome, he was in for a big disappointment. The main infection of Baalism remained in the form of Queen Jezebel. She was unmoved by God’s display of power and remained determined to spread her poison to the people through her weak and vacillating husband, King Ahab.
Jezebel had a history of killing people who disagreed with her. No doubt she fully intended to kill Elijah, but, when she got him to run away, she accomplished much of what she wanted: She left no doubt about who was really in charge of Israel. She was.
Yet Jezebel’s power was far more limited than she realized.
Jesus understood this when He spoke to Pilate.
"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"
Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." (John 19:10-11)
Jezebel thought she could kill Elijah, but she couldn’t. Rather, she herself was executed by a ruler (Jehu) who was appointed by one of Elijah’s servant’s servants.
Jezebel’s threat seemed so real. But it proved to be an illusion. She had no lasting power over the people of God. Enduring power belongs to the Son of God, and we are seated in heavenly places with Him. No monster of this age can take that away, and God will have the last word.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
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Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.