1 Kings 19:15
And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
After fleeing in discouragement without being sent, Elijah was met at Horeb and sent back toward Israel by way of the wilderness of Damascus to anoint Hazael king over Syria as part of bringing judgment on idolatry and sharing the work of reform with others. The man to be anointed was cruel and deceitful, whose rule would become a scourge against idolatrous, apostate Israel in attacks and the loss of cities. This scourging was permitted to turn the people back to God, tempered with mercy and turned aside when its purpose was accomplished. By yielding once to weakness and letting go of faith, Elijah cut short his life-work and was commanded to anoint another to be prophet in his stead after standing alone for God through famine, Carmel, and Jezebel's threats. Yet God did not leave him to perish in solitude nor cast away His people, but took him up to glory and had reserved seven thousand who had not bowed to Baal, so that even now there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Elijah's Discouragement and Commission
After Jezebel threatened his life following the victory over Baal's prophets, Elijah lost courage and confidence and faith and fled without being sent by God. His flight belongs to the loss of faith that followed that triumph, and the command to anoint another prophet in his place was part of God's response to that discouragement.
God met Elijah in his retreat to Mount Horeb through an angel to meet his needs and make the divine purpose for Israel plain. There at Horeb he had to learn to trust wholly in God and to recognize that his fearful flight had turned him from the greater work and the opportunities God had for him. God then sent him back toward Israel by way of the wilderness of Damascus and commissioned him to anoint Hazael as king over Syria. This was part of God's purpose to bring judgment on idolatry and to give people opportunity to take their stand for the true God, with Elijah to share the work of reformation with others.
By one failure of faith Elijah cut short his life-work and was not to complete the work he had begun. He had borne a heavy burden for Israel, warning faithfully against national idolatry, watching through three and a half years of famine for repentance, and standing alone for God on Mount Carmel where idolatry was cast down and rain testified to coming blessing, then in weakness and weariness he fled before Jezebel's threats and prayed alone in the desert that he might die. That letting go of faith, yielding once to human weakness and error, brought God's command to anoint another to be prophet in his stead. Yet God had marked his faithful heart-service and faithful service, so he was not left to perish in discouragement and solitude in the wilderness nor to descend to the tomb, but would not die alone in the wilderness and was taken up with God's angels to God's glory.
Judgment Through Hazael's Rule
God commanded Elijah to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, though Hazael was a cruel and deceitful man, so that his rule would become a scourge against idolatrous, apostate Israel. This appointment shows judgment as an outcome God may allow and permit to come upon those who persist in idolatry. That permitted suffering under Hazael was intended to turn the people back to Him, and the judgments were tempered with mercy with their course changed when His purpose was accomplished.
The commission was fulfilled when Hazael's later rule brought suffering on Israel through his attacks and the loss of Israelite cities to Syria. The Hazael appointed to become king of Syria and to be a scourge of Israel was the grandfather of the king whose forces besieged Samaria. Men who reject God's word in favor of human reason are likened to Hazael as a scourge to God's people.
Remnant Grace and Endurance
The command to return by way of the wilderness of Damascus belongs to God's answer when Elijah made intercession against Israel, saying that they had killed God's prophets and dug down His altars and he was left alone and they sought his life. That answer proves that God had not cast away His people which He foreknew, for He had reserved to Himself seven thousand men who had not bowed the knee to Baal. Even so at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace, showing that even though Israel rejected His Son, God did not reject them.
Though Elijah thought he was the only one left faithful to God, God had preserved seven thousand who had not worshiped Baal. This warns against trying to count God's people as though their number or faithfulness were fully known. The lesson is to show tender sympathy and to seek the salvation of the lost.
Elijah's history of discouragement and flight from Jezebel helps God's people when facing difficulty. They are to trust in the Lord, keep to their duty, and not let fear discourage them. They are to wait patiently and prayerfully for Him rather than rely on human wisdom or take responsibilities that God has not given them, for God's purposes are carried out as they wait for Him.
By one failure of faith Elijah cut short his life-work and was not to complete the work he had begun. After bearing a heavy burden for Israel, warning faithfully against national idolatry, watching through three and a half years of famine for repentance, and standing alone for God on Mount Carmel where idolatry was cast down and rain testified to coming blessing, in weakness and weariness he fled before Jezebel's threats and prayed alone in the desert that he might die. That letting go of faith, yielding once to human weakness and error, brought the command to anoint another to be prophet in his stead. Yet God had marked his faithful heart-service, so he was not left to perish in discouragement and solitude in the wilderness nor to descend to the tomb, but was taken up with God's angels to God's glory. His preservation declares that unbelief means failure and sin brings only shame and loss, but God's mercy reaches the deepest depths and faith lifts the repenting soul to share the adoption of the sons of God.