Elijah was a man subject to like passions as ourselves. His mission to Ahab, and the terrible denunciation to him of the judgments of God, required courage and faith. On his way to Samaria the perpetually flowing streams, the hills covered with verdure, the forests of stately, flourishing trees,—everything his eye rested upon flourishing in beauty and glory,—would naturally suggest unbelief. How can all these things in nature, now so flourishing, be burned with drought? How can these streams that water the land and that have never been known to cease their flow, become dry? But Elijah did not cherish unbelief. He went forth on his mission at the peril of his life. He fully believed that God would humble His apostate people and that through the visitation of His judgments He would bring them to humiliation and repentance. He ventured everything in the mission before him. {3T 274.3}

Elias var genstand over for de samme lidenskaber som vi. Hans mission overfor Akab og den frygtelige anklage over ham fra Gud, krævede mod og tro. På sin vej til Samaria flød evige strømme, bakkerne var dækket med grønt, skove med statelige, blomstrende træer, - hans øjne hvilede hele tiden på alt trivslens skønhed og herlighed. - og ville antyde vantro. Hvordan kan alle disse ting i naturen, som nu trives, gå ud i tørke? Hvordan kan disse strømme som vander landet og som aldrig i mands minde har ophørt med at strømme, blive tørlagte? Men Elias var ikke vantro. Han gik frem i sin mission med risiko for (275) sit liv. Han troede fuldt ud at Gud ville ydmyghed sit frafaldne folk og at han ved sine dommes hjemsøgelser ville få dem til ydmyg og anger. Han vovede alt i den mission der lå for ham.