The Red Cloud chief., 1922-01-19
LESSON FOR JANUARY II
CliJAH'S FLIGHT AND RETURN.

LESSON TEXT Kings 19:t-cl.
GOLDEN TEXT--I waited patiently Tor
the Lord: and he inclined unto me. ana
heard my Cry.-Ps. p!1.
REFERENCE MATEIIAL-EEek. 2:f-I:
Acts l6:6-lO; 1S:l-1l.
PRIMARY TOPiC-God Sends an Angel
10 Help Elijah.
JUNIOR TOPIC-God Strengthens Eli.
iah.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Jehovah's Champion Encouraged.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Finding and Finishing our Task.
This lesson story proves Elijah to
have been a man OF like passions as
we are GAS. 5:1O.
I. Eiijah's Flight wv. LID. Upon
Ahab's return from the excitement on
Mount Carmel. lie told his wife Ill
that Elijah had done-that even all
her prophets had been hewn to pieces
by the sword. This so enraged her
that she sent n message Of death to
Elijah, who seems to have been walt
ing at the gate wv. I, p. This was
clearly IL bluff on Jezcbel's part.
Though Elijah had c~ourageously
stood before the king and the priests
of Baal. he now covered before this
woman and fed for his iife. He seems
to have failed ut his strongest point.
!. Elijah under the juniper tree
Wv. 3-7). The juniper tree was Il
shrub of the desert which afforded
shelter and protection to travellers
from the burning sun by day and the
cold wind by nj. ;ht. % His request
". ~. This was that he might die.
This WAS. no doubt, a foolish thing for
him to say. but let us be as consld-
crate toward him as was God. The
discOurageinent. and even desponden-
cy. of Elijah was due TO the nervous
strain Of about four years of unusual
service for God. which illuminated
on Mount Carmel. Such nervous re.
action is to be expected. (2) Gods
tender treatment wv. 5.O. (a) He
gave him sleep (v. 81. "He giveth
His beloved sleep" (Psa. 1877 ~. (b)
He sent an angel to cook Eliiah's
meal wv. G.. y. The angel Of the Lord
Is usually understood TO be he Sec
Ond member of the Holy Trinity. II
this be correct. then we see jehovah
| JeSuS DItIbNItuS tVuu " lis SNi di
Elijah. as lie afterward did for His
discouraged disciples by GaIilee (John
81 :10). God again gave him sleep.
and ut the proper time again gave him
food. Though Elijah wanted to die.
God had something better for him.
for in n later day He met him with
the "charfot Of the Lord" and took
him to heaven untouched by death.
.. Elijah at Iloreh wv. SID.
~ Gods interview with Elijah In
the cave wv. 0, 100. (a) Gods ques-
ton ". ~. what doest thou here.
Elijah?" This was a singing rcbuke.
though most kindly given. 1t implied
that His appointed messenger was
now far away from the field of duty.
Elijah was not where God wanted him.
but God sought him where he was.
How blessed to know that "A God
forsnking saint is not a God-forsakcn
saint !" (b) Elijah's answer ". 10).
Elijah tried to vindicate himself by
asserting his jealous loyalty TO God
that IN spite of all this the people
had not only rejected his message
and dlshOnorcd God. but lad sought
to destroy him. (2) Gods interview
with Elijah on the Mount wv. 11-14).
Willie standing before the Lord on
the mount, God caused n mighty
demonstration Of wind, earthquake
and fire to pass before him to show
INTO him the nature OF the work which
he had been doing for God. and to
show him what was lacking In his
work for the fullest attainment OF
success. Elijah had about him much
of the whlrlwind, earthquake and fire.
His work had been terrifying and
alarming, but II lacked in g~entleness
and love,
II. EIijah's Return wv. 1919.
! Though Elijah had erred. God
; brought him again into His service.
2 How comforting to know that God
) does not reject His servants because
, of their failures in times of dcspOn-
: dency! He deals with them after the
: motive Of their hearts. Elijah was
I nourished and instructed by the Lord
: and then sent on n high mission. God
! is n fine psychologist. He took Elijah
out of himself by giving him n new
: commission. The most healing min
istry Is that of work. Many bercaved
ones have beer lifted II of them
, selves by active ministry to others.
Before God would come in His chariot
to take Elijah home, He set him upon
a threefold ministry:
1. To anoint Ilaznel king over Syria
". 15).
.. To anOint Jehu king over Israel
". ICY.
3. To anoint Elisha as his own sue,
$ cessor wv. 1920.
IA Time Rightly Employed.
q Nalar .nll. with anu man or t,naa-