Be careful after a great success.

Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there. 1 Kings 18:40

After the fire consumed the soggy logs and the god of Baal was exposed as impotent, Elijah seems caught up in the hype and hysteria. “Kill them all,” is essentially his order.

Could he justify this? Sure. It was common practice in ancient times for false prophets to lose their lives. Even God allowed it. (God communicated to people in their way in their day.) But God did not say specifically to Elijah to take this action. He could have shown grace and mercy. They seemed genuinely humbled by the display. Perhaps they would have changed their ways.

But Elijah, in my view, got caught up and went to the extreme. God’s power and authority might have been confused as his own power and authority. He took the matter further and found himself over-stepping.

I view Elijah as over-stepping because the action seemed to cause him insecurity. Jezebel threatens him, and Elijah panics.

So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. 1 Kings 19:2-3

The same guy who’d just done the fire bull-wood-water-fire miracle. The same guy who’d just had 400+ false prophets executed. The guy who was considered to be the most powerful and “anointed” leader of the Israelites in his day. That guy panicked and ran for his life.

When we take it further than God says to go, we end up feeling alone and afraid. And it happens to the most impressive of God’s leaders.

Be bold and invite God’s miracles. But watch for the ego that always wants to go further on its own.