1 Kings 19:4-9 AMPC
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a lone broom or juniper tree and asked that he might die. He said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers. [5] As he lay asleep under the broom or juniper tree, behold, an angel touched him and said to him, Arise and eat. [6] He looked, and behold, there was a cake baked on the coals, and a bottle of water at his head. And he ate and drank and lay down again. [7] The angel of the Lord came the second time and touched him and said, Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you. [8] So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and nights to Horeb, the mount of God. [9] There he came to a cave and lodged in it; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah?
Running away from difficult situations or aggressive enemies seems very attractive, but it is seldom the answer.
Elijah had experienced a great victory of the Lord over the prophets of a false god Baal (450 in total) see 1 Kings 18.
But then, in his human tiredness and weakness, he fled at the threat of one woman, Jezebel!
It just shows up the contrariness of humanity in our walk with God.
One moment we're spiritual giants, the next quivering cowards.
How patient is the Lord. He doesn't leave us in our despair and depression.
Look how he cares for Elijah, who had given up on life.
As Elijah lays down exhausted, he wakes to find "angel cakes" cooking and water to refresh him.
Many times I've driven with my nearest and dearest into the wilderness south of Beersheba.
It is indeed a solitary area of peculiar stark beauty.
There's only very sparse vegetation and towering barren cliffs.
In Elijah's era, survival would have been well nigh impossible.
There, on the edge of existence, at his very lowest point, God finds him and comes to sustain him with angelic assistance.
He doesn't come with a sermon, quoting scripture at him. No, He comes to where he is. He gives him what he needs: rest and recuperation.
Only after Elijah recovers his strength does the Lord make him face his actions: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
We can learn a valuable lesson and imitate God in our dealings with broken people.
Aren't you glad that Jesus comes to find YOU in your brokenness?!
I know I am!
What a wonderful Lord and Saviour:
"Love lifted me".
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