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CHAPTER 19 (ESV)
1 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.
REFLECTION
- Elijah’s human side is revealed as we witness his deep depression and discouragement after so great a demonstration of God’s power. His example shows that we can confess our weaknesses, discouragements, and fears to the Lord. He will both hear them and, amazingly, minister to us regarding them and work through us despite them to accomplish His work.
- When Elijah was asking for death, what did God say to him? What did God do to comfort him?
- In my faith journey, have I ever been as depressed and disappointed as Elijah to the point I couldn’t go on any further (especially coming off of a spiritual “high”)? What was it? How did I come out of it? Was it any of God’s word or the sense of God’s presence with me? Or was it someone that God brought to minister to me then?
- Am I in such condition now? How would the past experiences help me? How would I face it now?
PRAYER
Read the following verses slowly trying to appreciate coming to God “with confidence”.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb 4:14-16)
