DAY 4 SAME TACTIC; DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS
1 Kings 19: 1-4
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
– Read 1 Kings 18 to see Elijah’s amazing victory in the battle against Baal and his false prophets.
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.
– Notice the weapon used here is words.
3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
– Remember WORDS HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE ONE’S FOCUS. They paint a picture or image in the mind. In the case of the words of our adversary, that image is always an illusion.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
The prophet who was a mighty man of valor a few days earlier is now depressed and wishing to die.
This is our adversary’s strategy: If he can change our focus, then he will change our perspective. When our perspective changes, our behavior changes and we move from being `ezer helpers in the war, military allies to being hindrances or inactive in warfare.
Read also the account of Peter and the Storm in Matthew 14:28-30.
Notice how his change of focus – from Jesus to the boisterous – changed his perspective from faith to fear, and resulted in a change of behavior, instead of walking on water he begins to sink.
DIG DEEPER:
1. The Blog Post – It Might Just Be an Illusion!
2. Prayer Room – Strategy of Warfare (2)