 Key Verse
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” Meditation The long-suffering love of God does not disregard disciples who are discouraged or despondent. God delights to personally meet us to provide for our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Elijah was “very jealous for the Lord,” (10, 14) but following his confrontation with the prophets of Baal he was exhausted and his expectations dashed. Rather than revival in the kingdom, Elijah experienced persecution. Jezebel vowed to kill Elijah. (1-3) Discouraged and despondent, Elijah fled to the wilderness and wished to die. (4) Elijah felt like a failure: “I am no better than my fathers…” Elijah was lonely and saw only limitations: “I am the only prophet left…” Elijah was afraid, desperately honest about his emotional and spiritual exhaustion. God did not reject Elijah for His weakness. God cared for Elijah physically, giving him rest and sustenance. Rather than correct Elijah’s misunderstandings, God met Elijah personally, privately, quietly, and beautifully. God whispered to Elijah’s heart- You are not alone- I will never leave you or forsake you. My plans will be accomplished. Diligent disciples are not exempt from discouragement, despondency, and despair. Jeremiah was also brutally honest with discouragement and despair: “Cursed is the day I was born! … why did I ever come out of the womb!?” (Jeremiah 20:14-18). God’s love is big enough for our most desperate pleas! From His covenant faithfulness, God meets discouraged disciples to supply all our needs. Jesus was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53:3) After resurrection, the defeat of death, Jesus waits to meet despondent disciples to offer gospel relief. (John 21) Today’s Reading Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. The Lord Speaks to Elijah 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?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” The Call of Elisha 19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you in today’s reading, especially in Elijah’s despondency and the Lord’s personal engagement of His servant? -Take a moment to name your discouragements, depression, despondency, emotional or spiritual exhaustion… ask Jesus to meet you personally and powerfully by His Spirit. -God will speak to you in your solitude. Take time to be with Him, quiet and still to hear His still small voice. Be sure to note what His Spirit whispers to you. Key Verse 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
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