“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” Romans 10:1. “God hath not cast away his people which foreknew.” Romans 11:2.
Paul’s desire in intercession was for Israel (Romans 10:1).
Elijah’s intercession was against Israel (Romans 11:2).
The reason for Elijah’s despair was the fact that he was very discouraged by circumstances, etc., and had allowed this discouragement to cause such despair that he could not see any way out but by death. He felt he had done all possible for the glory of the Lord. He had his answer all made up, i.e., to reason with God, and could recite it twice as God spoke to him. He had lost the vision of seeing God’s plan brought to pass by insisting upon his own importance. He gave himself up to die, under the strain and stress of it all. All of this seeming humility, saying he was no better than his fathers, etc., was his desire to get out of the whole trouble. While he, no doubt, was thinking each breath would be his last and that God would release him from earthly duty, God sent an angel to serve him a cake and water so that he might live. Yet he was insistent that he had done well and the Israelites had not.
God rent the mountains and broke the rocks by a strong wind, then an earthquake, then a fire, that Elijah might be aware of His greatness and power. But Elijah kept on rehearsing his piece even after he heard the manifestations of His power and greatness, and then still small voice. It is interesting to note that the Lord did not argue this point at all. He took note of Elijah’s persistent pessimistic cry. He simply ordered him to set things in order for His plan to go on. A king had to be anointed, as well as a prophet in Elijah’s place as prophet. The political and religious question had to be solved for the furtherance of God’s plan. At that time there were 7,000 in the remnant who had been faithful to their faith.
Elisha was the one chosen of God and Elisha looked him up and found him. His mantle was cast upon Elisha and he was at once ready to leave all. Time passed. God does not cut off suddenly, as a rule. He blends and weaves the tapestry. Miracles are wrought by the hand of Elijah, but the day came for his departure from this earth. Is it just chance that Elisha is at his side? That Elijah proves him true after time, even as the other prophets try to discourage him? No, he had a vision, he wanted to see the plan of God accomplished, so he refused to stay put and insisted on accompanying Elijah until the end. He knew that Elijah would be taken up, even the lesser prophets knew that.
