Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Kings 19:1-8

"And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel send a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day`s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper-tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Jehovah, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. And he lay down and slept under a juniper-tree; and, behold, an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was at his head a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of Jehovah came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God." — 1 Kings 19:1-8 (ASV)

Jezebel sent Elijah a threatening message. Carnal hearts are hardened and enraged against God by what should convince and conquer them.

Great faith is not always equally strong. He could have been serviceable to Israel at this time and had every reason to depend on God's protection while doing God's work; yet he flees.

His was not the deliberate desire of grace, like Paul's, to depart and be with Christ. God thus left Elijah to himself to show that when he was bold and strong, it was in the Lord and the power of his might; but of himself, he was no better than his fathers.

God knows what he intends for us—what services, what trials—even if we do not, and he will take care that we are provided with sufficient grace.