Biblical Leaders: Elijah

There’s a term I heard a lot growing up. It’s not one you hear nearly as much anymore unless it’s a Gen-Xer complaining about a younger generation. That term is tough love. As a parent I now understand that idea better than at any other time in my life but I’ve always found that to be an interesting statement. There’s a certain tension that comes with dealing out tough love. It’s one that can call for a tough mind but yet a tender heart so to speak. Today’s post is looking specifically at that.

Elijah, like the other prophets, had a tender heart towards God and towards the things of God. The people around them, well let’s just say not so much. One of the more famous stories about Elijah occurs in 1 Kings 19 where he’s on the lam, hiding out from the queen who’s looking to take his life. I think this story actually speaks towards his tender heart and it’s one worth spending some time with, even if you’ve read it before. I have some friends that call this moment the Mount Carmel meltdown. What led him to this point though?

Because Elijah was tender toward God’s word, God sent him as a messenger and informed the king that a drought was coming and that it wasn’t going to rain until Elijah gave word for it to (1Kings 17:1). Needless to say, it took some courage for him to stand up to the king like this. Jump ahead to chapter 18, three years later, Elijah goes back to the king, yet again showing immense amounts of courage.

Harry Truman once said, “ to be able to lead others, a man must be willing to go forward alone.”

Elijah embodied that statement. There were other prophets during this time but there were either in hiding (1 Kings 18:4). He went alone and challenged the king but also challenged the prophets of Baal in the smackdown of all smackdowns! We even see Elijah jeering at them in 1 Kings 18:27. Dude had guts! His sarcasm showed his contempt for those that had forsaken God.

Elijah was tender towards Obadiah (1 Kings 18) and towards God’s word but courageous when he needed to be. We as leaders need to do the same. Too many times I’ve not been tender with the people in my life and hid behind being “courageous” for the mission I was on. I would like to find a balance of being courageous for and tender with the people in my life. What about you? Do you find yourself tender and courageous in the appropriate times?

I’m praying for just that, a tender heart and a courageous mind.

Photo by Zoe Holling on Unsplash