Elijah Syndrome

Elijah going Old Testament on the prophets of Baal

A little story from the Bible, if you please.

Back in Old Testament days. when God was prone to going Old Testament on people, there was a prophet named Elijah. He had the misfortune of being around when the king was mad, bad and dangerous to know, let alone live under. However, his wife Jezebel, who had the king whipped seven ways from the Sabbath, made him look like a choir boy. Speaking of which, the Choir have a new album out. But I digress.

Anyway, Jezebel and the king were heavy into idol worship, namely one named Baal. This was as opposed to American Idol worship, although based on last season’s dismal ratings that seems to be on the decline. But again I digress; back to the story.

Elijah, being more akin to Chuck Norris than Casper Milquetoast, suggested a showdown. Let’s build a couple of altars. You, Baal and your five bajillion priests for same against me and… well, pretty much me and my God. First deity to aim a celestial flamethrower at the sacrifice with their name on it wins. The other side says okay.

Elijah says, you go first. They do. So Elijah waits. And waits and waits and waits. Not so much as a single flick of a Bic.

Elijah says my turn. WHOOMP! There it is. Firestorm city.

Jezebel is seriously peeved over this, what with her false god and priests being turned into chumps. “Off with his head!” comes the edict. So what does Elijah, after winning a staredown with a whole mess of messed-up misguided muttonheads, this dovetailing into being fresh off a display of God’s power so immense Gabriel’s still giving Him high-fives, do?

Runs like the wind. (We’ll get to why in a bit.)

Anyway, Elijah ends up hiding in a cave located on a mountain. God says what are you doing.

Uh, hiding from Jezebel’s henchmen because she’s ordered me taken out. I mean, really, Lord. I’ve been the one-man gang for You. I’ve done everything You’ve told me to. And what has it accomplished? The people are still stuck on stupid, and the Red Queen wants to see my red blood coating her boys’ swords.

Step outside, Elijah.

So he does, just in time to catch the show. Wind. Earthquake. Fire. Had the first two been reversed you could set it all to the tune of “Shining Star.” Most impressive. One minor detail, though. All show, no dough. No God either.

Next up? A still small voice. Here’s God talking at you, Elijah. Now, what’s the deal?

What do you mean “what’s the deal,” Lord? Didn’t You hear me the first time? I’m hiding from Jezebel’s henchmen because she’s ordered me taken out. I mean, really, Lord. I’ve been the one-man gang for You. I’ve done everything You’ve told me to. And what has it accomplished? The people are still stuck on stupid, and the Red Queen wants to see my red blood coating her boys’ swords.

And how does God respond?

A rebuke for Elijah’s lack of faith?

A pep talk?

Some arm-around-the-shoulder sympathy?

Try none of the above.

Elijah, here are your marching orders. And for the record, I’ve got peeps out these. Now get going and git’r done.

Which he did.

Now, let’s get back to why Elijah high-tailed it when Jezebel copped a ‘tude. The question is why someone so infused with God that he ended his life not by dying, but rather being taken in a chariot straight to heaven, didn’t charge into the queen’s chambers yelling “bring it, beeotch!” ‘Twould be the logical reaction, one would think.

But no.

Neither is there any shame in how Elijah reacted.

Elijah had just hit a spiritual high of highs. He had gone Galt, and it had paid off to the max. He had defied the rulers of their land along with their minions, armed with nothing but faith, and it had worked perfectly. He had shown the people the truth.

And it apparently hadn’t made a lick of difference.

The people still worshiped a false god. The king and queen still did the same. He had an open contract out on his life. As far as he knew, he was alone in this world.

And it got to him.

So he ran.

And God let him rum, taking care of him along the way, until he stopped running, feeling embittered, broken and defeated.

Then God told him, by giving him the aforementioned marching orders, he wasn’t defeated.

No lightning striking him down. No smacking upside the head. No lecture.

Nothing but a straightforward, simple list of things to do going forward.

I strongly suspect most, if not all, of us who follow Christ suffer from Elijah syndrome at times. We pour heart, mind and soul into something God has led us to do, and it seems like it makes no difference whatsoever. Not much, if anything, changes. People who you fervently pray will respond to what God has laid on your heart to do, don’t respond. In any fashion. The world continues on its course, taking seemingly no note of your efforts. Or you. You feel isolated and defeated.

You’re not.

God rejects showboats in favor of near-silent whispers. He’s not holding a club over our heads, waiting to beat us up for beating ourselves up over hitting bottom after reaching the top. He reminds us that doing what He has commanded us to do is never, ever in vain.

And then He tells us what to do next.

It’s all part of being one of His beloved, bedraggled ragtags.