The Running Man

“And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.’ And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.” (1 Kings 19:1-3)

In the 1987 movie The Running Man, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a wrongly convicted man who must try to survive a public execution gauntlet staged as a TV game show. Arnold not only survived, but he lives on to run for governor of California in 2003. But long before Arnold could lift his first dumbbell, speak True Lies, played Kindergarten Cop, found his Twins, got a Raw Deal, or terminate his opponents, Elijah was the first running man. Elijah had just won through the power of God the great contest on Mount Carmel with the prophets of Baal.

Fire fell from heaven and consumed the offering even though it was soaked with water. The people then realized that the God of Elijah was real and the god of the false prophets was not. Eight hundred fifty (1 Kings 18:19) false prophets were executed. Queen Jezebel was enraged that her prophets had been killed, and she vowed to kill Elijah. It seems strange that after being at such spiritual heights that Elijah would react the way he did. Perhaps the contest had drained him spiritually and he could not face another confrontation. Elijah knew how evil Jezebel was so he just wanted to run away. He ran and even told God that he wanted to die. But even after Elijah ran away God knew exactly to where he had fled. God not only knew where Elijah was, He was there to intervene in Elijah’s life to bring about renewal and restoration.

We may run from our problems but we will never be able to run away from God. If we are running away we will discover that we have a new set of problems when we stop running that are just as bad if not worse than the ones we left behind. The Bible in Ephesians 6:10-13 tells us, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

In 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” If Elijah had simply stood his ground, the outcome with Jezebel would have been the same as it were for her 850 false prophets. Instead of running away from our problems, let us be steadfast and make a stand on the promises in the Word of God, trusting that God has the power to save us. We may end up in the fiery furnace like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in Daniel 3 but if we are faithful, we will find as they did that the Lord Jesus is there in the fire with us and He will surely deliver us.
Copyright © 2003 Eddy Ministries.
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