While Israel was apostatizing, Elijah remained a loyal and true prophet of God. His faithful soul was greatly distressed as he saw that unbelief and infidelity were fast separating the children of Israel from God, and he prayed that God would save His people. He entreated that the Lord would not wholly cast away His sinning people, but that He would by judgments if necessary arouse them to repentance and not permit them to go to still greater lengths in sin and thus provoke Him to destroy them as a nation. {3T 273.2}

Medens Israel var under frafald, forblev Elias en loyal og sand Guds profet. Hans trofaste sjæl blev meget bedrøvet når han så den vantro og utroskab der så hurtig adskilte Israels børn fra Gud og han bad om Gud ville frelse hans folk. Han bad indtrængende om at Herren ikke skulle helt kaste sit syndende folk væk, men at han, om nødvendig ved domme, vække det til anger og ikke lade dem gå længere ud i synd og således opægge ham til at ødelægge dem som folk.