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King Ahab told his wife Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had put all the prophets of Baal to death.
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She sent a message to Elijah: "May the gods strike me dead if by this time tomorrow I don't do the same thing to you that you did to the prophets."
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Elijah was afraid and fled for his life; he took his servant and went to Beersheba in Judah. Leaving the servant there,
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Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he would die. "It's too much, Lord," he prayed. "Take away my life; I might as well be dead!"
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He lay down under the tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, "Wake up and eat."
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He looked around and saw a loaf of bread and a jar of water near his head. He ate and drank, and lay down again.
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The Lord's angel returned and woke him up a second time, saying, "Get up and eat, or the trip will be too much for you."
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Elijah got up, ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to walk forty days to Sinai, the holy mountain.
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There he went into a cave to spend the night. Suddenly the Lord spoke to him, "Elijah, what are you doing here?"
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He answered, "Lord God Almighty, I have always served you - you alone. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed all your prophets. I am the only one left - and they are trying to kill me!"
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"Go out and stand before me on top of the mountain," the Lord said to him. Then the Lord passed by and sent a furious wind that split the hills and shattered the rocks - but the Lord was not in the wind. The wind stopped blowing, and then there was an earthquake - but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
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After the earthquake there was a fire - but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the soft whisper of a voice.
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When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, "Elijah, what are you doing here?"
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He answered, "Lord God Almighty, I have always served you - you alone. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed all your prophets. I am the only one left - and they are trying to kill me."
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The Lord said, "Return to the wilderness near Damascus, then enter the city and anoint Hazael as king of Syria;
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anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.
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Anyone who escapes being put to death by Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and anyone who escapes Jehu will be killed by Elisha.
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Yet I will leave seven thousand people alive in Israel - all those who are loyal to me and have not bowed to Baal or kissed his idol."
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