One Year Bible Saturday, June 18th "God Speaks Elijah" "Peter is Miraculously Freed from Prison"
Elijah Flees to Sinai
Elijah learned that Queen Jezebel had put out a hit on his life, so he set out and stopped at Beersheba and then went into the wilderness. At night he was exhausted and sat under a broom tree. He was very depressed and said to the Lord, "“Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”
While he was sleeping, an angel woke him up and told him there was some bread and cool water for him to drink and eat. He ate and drank and went back to sleep. The angel woke him up again and encouraged him to eat and drink some more, which he did. He had eaten and drank enough to make a 40 day journey to Mount Sinai. He came upon a cave and slept there for the night.
We sense that Elijah meant, “I can’t do this anymore, LORD.” The work was stressful, exhausting, and seemed to accomplish nothing. The great work on Mount Carmel did not result in a lasting national revival or return to the LORD. - Guzik
God first ministered to Elijah’s physical needs. This is not always His order, but physical needs are important. Sometimes the most spiritual thing a person can do is get enough rest and replenishment. - Guzik
“And how many are there at this day that sit under Elias’s juniper, willing and wishing to lay down that heavy burden imposed upon them by the Almighty!” (Trapp)
The Lord Speaks to Elijah
Then the Lord spoke directly to Elijah asking him what he was doing in the cave. Again Elijah bemoaned his situation. And the Lord told him to go stand out on the face of the mountain. As the Lord passed by, there was a hailstorm, a windstorm, and an earthquake, but the Lord was not in any of them. But the Lord spoke to Elijah in a still, small whisper.
Elijah put a cloak over himself and came to the entrance of the cave when the Lord asked him again, "What are you doing here?" Elijah repeated the fact that he had tried to be faithful to the Lord iu every way. The people had torn done His altars and killed the prophets, and he was the only one left.
The Lord sent Elijah to anoint Hazael to be king of Syria, Jehu the king of Israel, and Elisha would take his place as the prophet of Israel. Then he told him that he had saved 7,000 people who had not bowed to worship Baal.
The Call of Elisha
When Elijah came upon Elisha he was plowing in the field. He threw his cloak around him as a sign he was passing the mantle of the prophet's role to him. He went on to be Elijah's assistant.
The mantle was the symbol of Elijah’s prophetic authority. This was a dramatic symbol that said, “I call upon you to join in my work as a prophet.” - Guzik
“The mantle, or pallium, was the peculiar garb of the prophet, as we may learn from Zechariah 13:4; and this was probably made of skin dressed with the hair on. See also 2 Kings 1:8.” (Clarke)
James, the brother of John, became the second martyr of the church. King Herod had him killed. Herod became very popular with the people because of this move, so he put Peter in prison as well. His plan was to put Peter on trial after the Passover. Due to security concerns, he put four teams of four guards each to watch Peter. Meanwhile the church was praying for Peter earnestly.
Peter’s Miraculous Escape from Prison
Peter was chained between two guards and in the night an angel came and struck him on the side so his chains were loosed. The angel led him past the first and second guards, through the city gate, the angel left him, and he was on his own. He went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. When Peter knocked on the door, Rhonda the servant girl answered and then ran and told the joyful group gathered it was Peter. They thought he was an angel. But Peter shared the story how the angel had rescued him.
Meanwhile when they discovered Peter was missing, Herod ordered a search for him. When he couldn't be found, he had the guards executed. When Herod sat on his royal throne with his royal robes, the people gave him an ovation saying, "It is the voice of God not man." Immediately Herod was struck by a disease and fell down and died because he had accepted worship which be given to God alone.
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