Session 7 1 Kings 19:9-18

ALONE? (1 KINGS 19:9-10)

listen for the conversation between Elijah and God.

9 He entered a cave there and spent the night.
Suddenly, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him,
“What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of Armies,
but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword.
I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”

Examine:

Use Pack Item 1 (Map: The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah)
to track Elijah’s general route following his confrontation with the false prophets
on Mt. Carmel until he reached the cave at Mount Horeb.

Paraphrase:

Lead the group to turn to a neighbor and paraphrase verses 9-10.

Discuss:

• What factors might contribute to people feeling alone, even when they are doing God’s work?
• How does discouragement contribute to feelings of isolation? (p. 63)

Highlight:

We sense the desperation in the prophet’s words.
He had spent days considering how far he had come,
not just geographically, but emotionally and spiritually.
He had gone from victor to victim,
from winner to whinner, and from faithful to fearful. He felt like a failure.

Transition:

Hiding in that cave Elijah was isolated and exhausted.
He felt alone and spiritually vulnerable.
Yet God had not abandoned Elijah.