But he himself went
a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree.
And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take
my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” Then as he lay and slept under
a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and
eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and
a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the
LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat,
because the journey is too great for you.” (1Kings 19:4-7 NKJ)
a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree.
And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take
my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” Then as he lay and slept under
a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and
eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and
a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the
LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat,
because the journey is too great for you.” (1Kings 19:4-7 NKJ)
Have you ever said
something like, “I could just die!” or “I wish I were
dead!”? Has life ever rose up and smacked you in the face with such force
that death seemed like a good alternative?
something like, “I could just die!” or “I wish I were
dead!”? Has life ever rose up and smacked you in the face with such force
that death seemed like a good alternative?
After a huge victory
over God’s enemies, Prophet Elijah has outrun King Ahab’s chariot from Mt.
Carmel “to the entrance of Jezreel” (1 Kings 18:46). This must have
taken a huge amount of strength and stamina, but it also produced great
physical fatigue. Elijah was physically, mentally and emotionally drained of
energy.
over God’s enemies, Prophet Elijah has outrun King Ahab’s chariot from Mt.
Carmel “to the entrance of Jezreel” (1 Kings 18:46). This must have
taken a huge amount of strength and stamina, but it also produced great
physical fatigue. Elijah was physically, mentally and emotionally drained of
energy.
Then he received the
evil queen’s death threat. And despite his exhaustion, he left Jezreel to
escape Jezebel’s assassins. After taking his servant to Beersheba, Elijah ran
for another day’s journey into the wilderness before sitting down to rest. And
as he sat slumped over in the shade of a juniper tree, ashamed for running
away, he prayed, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no
better than my fathers!” (1Kings 19:4 NKJ).
evil queen’s death threat. And despite his exhaustion, he left Jezreel to
escape Jezebel’s assassins. After taking his servant to Beersheba, Elijah ran
for another day’s journey into the wilderness before sitting down to rest. And
as he sat slumped over in the shade of a juniper tree, ashamed for running
away, he prayed, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no
better than my fathers!” (1Kings 19:4 NKJ).
Note, however, that
those who pray such prayers are never ready to truly face the thing for which
they pray. In his physical, mental and emotional state, the Prophet needed
rest, relaxation and renewal, but his journey was still ahead of him and he
couldn’t see how he could go any farther. So he prayed to die.
those who pray such prayers are never ready to truly face the thing for which
they pray. In his physical, mental and emotional state, the Prophet needed
rest, relaxation and renewal, but his journey was still ahead of him and he
couldn’t see how he could go any farther. So he prayed to die.
And as Elijah
prayed, he fell asleep. After an unknown time passed the Lord’s angel, who had
stood guard over him and also had cooked him a meal, awoke him and told him to
eat, which he did before laying down again in sleep. Then a second time, the
angel prodded him awake to eat saying, “You need to eat again, because the
journey is too great for you.”
prayed, he fell asleep. After an unknown time passed the Lord’s angel, who had
stood guard over him and also had cooked him a meal, awoke him and told him to
eat, which he did before laying down again in sleep. Then a second time, the
angel prodded him awake to eat saying, “You need to eat again, because the
journey is too great for you.”
“So he arose,
and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and
forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.” (1Kings 19:8 NKJ)
and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and
forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.” (1Kings 19:8 NKJ)
God sustained his
servant, but let him experience his physical frailties so that his confidence
would be in the power of God and not in himself. God still had more work for
Elijah to do. Elijah’s journey was not complete yet, he just needed God’s
strength and power and instructions. And his “journey” was greater
than he could achieve without God’s empowerment.
servant, but let him experience his physical frailties so that his confidence
would be in the power of God and not in himself. God still had more work for
Elijah to do. Elijah’s journey was not complete yet, he just needed God’s
strength and power and instructions. And his “journey” was greater
than he could achieve without God’s empowerment.
I know that God has
designed my journey, and he knows the journey he has designed for me, but when
I try to pursue the journey in the power of my own strength and might, I find
it is too great for me. In the power of my own strength, I become exhausted, mentally
whacked and emotionally drained. Yet, in the power of the Holy Spirit the
journey seems almost effortless. In the strength of his food, I achieve more
and endure beyond anything that seems humanly possible.
designed my journey, and he knows the journey he has designed for me, but when
I try to pursue the journey in the power of my own strength and might, I find
it is too great for me. In the power of my own strength, I become exhausted, mentally
whacked and emotionally drained. Yet, in the power of the Holy Spirit the
journey seems almost effortless. In the strength of his food, I achieve more
and endure beyond anything that seems humanly possible.
Dear Father, thank
you for the journey you set before us. Empower us to lay aside every weight and
the sin which so easily hinders us. Strengthen us to trust in your power. I
pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
you for the journey you set before us. Empower us to lay aside every weight and
the sin which so easily hinders us. Strengthen us to trust in your power. I
pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Trust Christ in your
journey today,
journey today,