day no. 16,552: that time God said, "No," to Elijah

1 Kings 19:4

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 Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers."

Elijah did not really want to die. He only asked to die here by the hand of God because he didn't want to die somewhere else by the hands of Jezebel.

1 Kings 19:1-3

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent 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.

So, Elijah wasn't really praying to be dead per se, but to be saved from dying in a particular way. By praying to die then and there under the shade of the juniper tree, he was praying to avoid another kind of death under the shade of Jezebel's malice.

James 5:16b-18

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

God answered Elijah's prayers regarding the skies, but did not answer his prayer to die. He did not always give the prophet what he asked for. In fact, not only did Elijah NOT die then and there, He didn't die anywhere... ever.  God did not strike him dead there under the juniper tree or under the wrath of Jezebel... or under the weight of old age, illness, accident, et cetera, Elijah NEVER died. God said, "No," to Elijah's specific request, but said, "Yes," to his general sentiment. Elijah escaped Jezebel, but he also escaped death.

Praise God for unanswered prayers and for answers to prayer that exceed our ability even to ask. Elijah didn't presume to ask God to escape death altogether, so he asked to die in the desert instead of in the dungeon of Jezebel. God heard his prayer and gave him more than he could ask or imagine.

Ephesians 3:18-21

To comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.