A look at Elijah in 1 Kings 19: 4-16
Do you sometimes feel like giving up? Does it seem like the journey is too difficult and that everyone is out to get you? Do you just want to lie down somewhere and hide from your troubles? This is the way Elijah felt. He had done a mighty work for God, but it seemed like he was the only one in the nation of Israel being true to God. Now he was being pursued and hunted, and he just felt like the fight wasn’t worth all the effort. If you’ve ever felt that way, you can learn from the example of Elijah. These verses give us important instruction as to what God would have us do when we feel like quitting.
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."
Elijah was so frustrated that he asked God to let him die. Have you ever felt that way? You feel like you’ve come to the end of your rope and you simply have no strength left. That is the way Elijah felt.
Snaith comments, "Elijah stops and shelters, exhausted and disillusioned, under a broom tree. ... It provides no great amount of shade against the desert sun, but it is the best shade there is. Elijah is utterly at the end of his own courage and his own strength, and dejectedly confesses that in spite of all he has done at Carmel he is no better than his fathers."
Verses 5-6
And he lay down and slept under a broom tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat."
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.
Elijah was so despondent that all he felt like doing was sleeping. Many people when faced with difficult situations feel more tired and drained than usual. They just want to sleep, hoping that when they wake up all their troubles will somehow have disappeared. God cared for Elijah and sent an angel to minister to him. He cooked bread and provided water and woke him up so that he could be strengthened and nourished. But Elijah didn’t want to face another day and so retreated again into sleep.
Into what are you retreating? It may not be sleep. You could be running from your problems by retreating into drugs or alcohol or immorality or some obsession to distract your mind. Elijah didn’t want to face tomorrow.
Verses 7-8
And the angel of the Lord came again a second time, and touched him, and said, "Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you."
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.
Here we have three things the angel tells Elijah to help him get over his desire to give up. I believe God is telling us the same three things today.
First, he says, to arise. We will never overcome our feelings of frustration and despondency unless we are willing to get up and do something about it. The angel told Elijah to arise. God may be telling you to arise – you’ve been hiding for too long. It’s time to get up and face the real world once again.
Second, the angel tells Elijah to eat. Elijah needed physical nourishment. We may not need food, but we may need other forms of nourishment – emotional, mental, spiritual. Whatever we need, God has provided it for us just the same way he provided for Elijah. He told Elijah to be strengthened by the food. God is telling us to be strengthened by spiritual nourishment. This might come from the living message of the Bible, or the love and encouragement of our church family. It could come from our time in prayer and meditation or it could come from being renewed by the Holy Spirit. Whatever your need, God will provide it and is offering it to you by saying, "arise and eat."
And third, the angel tells Elijah that he must begin the journey. He could not simply stay where he was and do nothing. He must begin the journey which would end in a new calling and a new spiritual encounter with God. God is telling us we cannot stay where we are in the shade of discouragement and hopelessness. We must begin the journey out of our depression. We must allow God to strengthen us for the journey, and then by faith step out.
Remember, trying times are no time to quit trying.
Verse 9
And there he came to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
So Elijah made the journey to Mount Horeb. This was most likely the Sinai mountain where God had given Moses the ten commandments. God had sent Elijah here for a purpose. But when he arrived, instead of climbing up the mountain, he decided to hide in a cave. As Sockman remarks, "Elijah was in the cave mood. He came to a cave and lodged there. Both his mind and heart had gone into hiding. He was still free from Ahab and Jezebel, but he was a prisoner of himself. He had shut the sunlight out of his mind. He had drawn the shutters of his heart. When doors are slammed against us, we are prone to draw into ourselves and lock our hearts against others."
So God came to Elijah and asked the question, "What are you doing here?" Is God asking you that same question? Are you hiding in a cave trying to escape the turmoil and confusion out there? God does not want us to live unto ourselves. He wants us to get out of the cave and start helping others and being a blessing to them. Perhaps it’s been a long time since you’ve thought of ways you could strengthen and be a help to others. Perhaps it’s been a long time since you got out of your cave. God may be asking you, "What are you doing here?"
More to come...
27 March 2009
10 March 2009
Where I Have Been Lately-
Chastening... it's not fun, but it's the required process.
"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty." (Job 5:17)
One of the fascinating paradoxes of Scripture (and of human life) is the oft-repeated principle that true parental love requires appropriate chastening, and chastening rightly received generates blessing and happiness. "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes" (Proverbs 13:24).
We are living in a world very devoid of correction and personal discipline- it is at epidemic levels and is the reason for the demise of the moral fiber, glue and basic respect for life in general!
This practice of discipline and correction is effective child psychology, assuming that the chastening is remedial rather than vindictive and is applied in love rather than anger. But the main teaching of such passages goes beyond parental child-training methods to the grand theme of God’s spiritual training of His children for eternity.
This thought is often expressed in the Psalms (94:12, etc.), but it is especially clear in the Proverbs. "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Proverbs 3:11-12).
The classic passage on this theme is Hebrews 12:5-11, which begins by quoting the above verses in Proverbs, and eventually concludes as follows: "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Hebrews 12:11).
We are "sons and daughters" of "the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:18), and it is essential that we be properly trained for our glorious future as "kings and priests unto God" (Revelation 1:6). We must learn to behave in ways appropriate to our high calling as children of the King, and this requires the divine rod at appropriate times. In His closing words to the last of the seven churches, Christ reminds us again: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19).
Just grin and bear it... it drives away those who really aren't called to us anyway and makes us ready for the coming role of Kingdom leadership you were called to take. it separates the "chosen" who assume the role they are called for and those who "talk it" but aren't willing to "walk it"! I ask G-d each day that His will be done in me, so I bring it on myself...gladly!!
"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty." (Job 5:17)
One of the fascinating paradoxes of Scripture (and of human life) is the oft-repeated principle that true parental love requires appropriate chastening, and chastening rightly received generates blessing and happiness. "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes" (Proverbs 13:24).
We are living in a world very devoid of correction and personal discipline- it is at epidemic levels and is the reason for the demise of the moral fiber, glue and basic respect for life in general!
This practice of discipline and correction is effective child psychology, assuming that the chastening is remedial rather than vindictive and is applied in love rather than anger. But the main teaching of such passages goes beyond parental child-training methods to the grand theme of God’s spiritual training of His children for eternity.
This thought is often expressed in the Psalms (94:12, etc.), but it is especially clear in the Proverbs. "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Proverbs 3:11-12).
The classic passage on this theme is Hebrews 12:5-11, which begins by quoting the above verses in Proverbs, and eventually concludes as follows: "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Hebrews 12:11).
We are "sons and daughters" of "the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:18), and it is essential that we be properly trained for our glorious future as "kings and priests unto God" (Revelation 1:6). We must learn to behave in ways appropriate to our high calling as children of the King, and this requires the divine rod at appropriate times. In His closing words to the last of the seven churches, Christ reminds us again: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19).
Just grin and bear it... it drives away those who really aren't called to us anyway and makes us ready for the coming role of Kingdom leadership you were called to take. it separates the "chosen" who assume the role they are called for and those who "talk it" but aren't willing to "walk it"! I ask G-d each day that His will be done in me, so I bring it on myself...gladly!!
02 March 2009
TRUST... that's the issue
G-d wants to be trusted.
G-d's greatest desire is to be trusted.
G-d's passion is fellowship with us, with YOU... now!
How?? Sounds "mystical" and pretty unattainable? It's not! But only certain people "hear" from Yashua... "I hear all the time" or "Jesus TOLD me..." Well, I hope they did hear from Him. I am not the judge, but that creates too broad of a brush stroke for those of us who don't get words directly everyday, who has never had words written on walls telling us what to do and where to go... so here is a devotional for the "rest of us" who don't hear G-d's audible voice all the time... but seek fellowship and direction from the King of kings and Lord of lords and made a way for us to enter the throne... enjoy and relax. TRUST Him.
"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." (Psalm 37:3)
Sprinkled throughout this psalm are various pictures that provide the assurance of God’s victory--not only in His eternal plan, but also in and through the lives of His precious saints.
Trust is the most basic of the characteristics of our relationship with the Lord and sets the foundation for all the rest. The Hebrew word carries the meaning of confidence, or boldness, and is often used in such a way that it would imply that we are to "gain support" and "lean on" the One in whom we trust. The expanded definition of trust is contained in Proverbs: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones" (Proverbs 3:5-8).
But merely having great confidence in the God of creation is not enough. We must "do good" (our text). The entire New Testament book of James is devoted to this theme: "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20). "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). "O that there were such an heart in them," God told Moses, "that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!" (Deuteronomy 5:29).
If we would enjoy the blessings of God, we must embrace the plan of God. If we are to expect the promise that we will "dwell" and "be fed," then we must submit to the instructions of our Lord, who told us to "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
G-d's greatest desire is to be trusted.
G-d's passion is fellowship with us, with YOU... now!
How?? Sounds "mystical" and pretty unattainable? It's not! But only certain people "hear" from Yashua... "I hear all the time" or "Jesus TOLD me..." Well, I hope they did hear from Him. I am not the judge, but that creates too broad of a brush stroke for those of us who don't get words directly everyday, who has never had words written on walls telling us what to do and where to go... so here is a devotional for the "rest of us" who don't hear G-d's audible voice all the time... but seek fellowship and direction from the King of kings and Lord of lords and made a way for us to enter the throne... enjoy and relax. TRUST Him.
"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." (Psalm 37:3)
Sprinkled throughout this psalm are various pictures that provide the assurance of God’s victory--not only in His eternal plan, but also in and through the lives of His precious saints.
Trust is the most basic of the characteristics of our relationship with the Lord and sets the foundation for all the rest. The Hebrew word carries the meaning of confidence, or boldness, and is often used in such a way that it would imply that we are to "gain support" and "lean on" the One in whom we trust. The expanded definition of trust is contained in Proverbs: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones" (Proverbs 3:5-8).
But merely having great confidence in the God of creation is not enough. We must "do good" (our text). The entire New Testament book of James is devoted to this theme: "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20). "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). "O that there were such an heart in them," God told Moses, "that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!" (Deuteronomy 5:29).
If we would enjoy the blessings of God, we must embrace the plan of God. If we are to expect the promise that we will "dwell" and "be fed," then we must submit to the instructions of our Lord, who told us to "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
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