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Elijah flees to Horeb

Elijah at Mount Horeb hears God's voice in a gentle whisper.
Contributed by FreeBibleimages
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Romanian, German, French, Hindi
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After witnessing the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, King Ahab returned to tell his wife, Queen Jezebel, that God had answered Elijah’s prayer and sent fire and then rain. He also reported that the prophets of Baal had been executed. Queen Jezebel, who worshipped the false idol Baal, was furious. – Slide 1
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She told a messenger to go and find Elijah and say, ‘May the gods deal with me severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not kill you like one of the prophets of Baal.’ – Slide 2
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The messenger found Elijah and delivered Queen Jezebel’s threat. Instead of trusting God to protect him Elijah became very frightened, fearing for his life.’ – Slide 3
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He found his servant and the two of them fled for their lives. – Slide 4
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Elijah ran away south, leaving the nation of Israel ruled by Ahab and Jezebel and travelled on through Judea. – Slide 5
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In Judea, Elijah and his servant still fled south to the town of Beersheba where there was a well with water to drink. – Slide 6
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Elijah told his servant to stay at Beersheba where he would be safe. – Slide 7
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However, Elijah set out south into the hot barren wilderness and travelled for a day. – Slide 8
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Elijah was still afraid, feeling very low and exhausted. When he came to a broom brush tree he sat under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he complained. ‘Take my life. I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down and fell asleep.’ – Slide 9
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At soon as he fell asleep, an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked around, and found some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. – Slide 10
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After eating, Elijah lay down under the broom brush tree and fell asleep again. – Slide 11
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The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him. Elijah woke up. ‘Get up and eat,’ the angel said, ‘for the journey ahead is too much for you.’  Elijah obeyed and got up and ate and drank. – Slide 12
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Strengthened by that food, Elijah travelled for forty days and nights through the barren wilderness until he reached Mount Horeb. – Slide 13
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It is also known as Mount Sinai, the mountain where God had spoken to Moses and given the ten commandments. – Slide 14
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Elijah went into a cave and spent the night. – Slide 15
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God spoke to Elijah in the cave. ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ Elijah replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your ways, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’ God answered Elijah by saying, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in my presence for I am going to pass by.’ – Slide 16
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Elijah went out of the cave and stood waiting for God to pass by. Suddenly a great and powerful wind tore through the mountain, shattering the rocks. But God was not in that powerful force. – Slide 17
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After the wind there was a powerful earthquake and the whole mountain trembled and shook. But the Lord was not in the earthquake. – Slide 18
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After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. – Slide 19
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Then there was silence and a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. The gentle whispering voice asked, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ – Slide 20
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Elijah replied as he had done before, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your ways, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’ ‘Go back the way you came,’ the Lord quietly replied. – Slide 21
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‘When you get to the Desert of Damascus, anoint Hazael, king over Aram, and anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel. Anoint Elisha son of Shaphat to succeed you as prophet.’ God explained that Elijah was not the only one left who served God. There were 7,000 people in Israel who had not bowed to Baal.’ Encouraged by the gentle answer from God, Elijah set off on the return journey. – Slide 22
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