Failed Leadership Essay -- Religion, Yahweh

Elijah is a prophet of Yahweh, Whom ministry is started with dramatic surprise to the local people and the nation. He announce drought that there will not be either rain or dew in the nation except by his word (1Kings 17:1). Elijah’s ministry again followed by another victory on mountain of Carmel in revenging the power that claims to be mighty. We see different pictures of Elijah in 1Kings 17-19. In Chapter 17 we see Elijah who is talking as powerful decision maker. In Chapter 18, we see Elijah who is victorious over his rivals, and confront with the King (1kings 18:17-19). In Chapter 19 we see a disheartened Elijah who seems forgotten his late victory over the prophets of Baal. Finally in this text (19:1-4) we see the fallen Elijah, fallen mighty saint who is begging for death and Elijah who was retiring from his long-term service as prophet of Yahweh (1kings 19:15-18). Lives of all the actors of this text may loudly speak to the Oromo people who have fled persecution o f dictatorial regime and suffered selfish character of some of their own leader who led the liberating institution. I. Application Today, when we read this text (1Kings 19:1-4 and 19:8-15) having the Elijah in the previous two chapters (17 and 18) in mind a lot of things may come to our minds, such things as confidence, mightiest , fair, and persecution. After the great events on Mount Carmel, Elijah did not get the opportunity to enjoy the victorious moments over the prophets of Baal. For those of you who had tremendous experiences in the struggle for freedom and went through persecution, it must be easier to understand what it feels to be in hopelessness, fair and disappointment. Lately friend of mine told me that he walked on his feet for nine da... ...ip and turn people face to worship the might God, however, he was filled with pride. Similarly the leaders who claim to lead the liberating force working toward the Oromo people might resemble Elijah who has big courage to work for the kingdom he is called to serve but failed in pride. Finally, the steps Elijah took in freeing people from worshiping the Idol could partly please God he was serving, to the contrary his pride displease God. Hence in order the struggles to continue the people who have been messing with the issue have to be removing. In our text God told to Elijah to go and remove the current political and religious leaders to be replaced by new leaders (1Kings 19:15-18). We are human being we will not serve forever and we will not mess up forever. God will use all possible means to call and install whom he want and remove that He wants to remove.