Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. (1Ki 19:2-3 NKJ)

Often, controlling people will go into fits of rage and temper tantrums when they are not having their way because they will do anything, even to the point of violence, to have their way and manipulate people into obeying them. When Ahab told Jezebel that Elijah had killed all the prophets of Baal and called down fire from heaven, she responded with threats, promising to kill Elijah.  So powerful is this control that even Elijah ran from her.

By now, she would have convinced those around her that she was the victim in all of this and that Elijah was the one trying to take control.  No wonder, when Elijah arrived at the cave in Beersheba, God asks him, “Elijah, why are you here?”