God, During Fear

SCRIPTURE: Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”  1 Kings 19:3-7 NIV

THOUGHT: This passage – so much longer than usual! – is every word necessary. It’s a magnifying glass on human fear in a spiritual giant. It’s a glimpse of the Father heart of God toward those who love him but are overwhelmed.

First of all, if you back out and read the whole chapter, God had just shown up big for Elijah in his spiritual battle with the prophets of Baal. Four-hundred-fifty-to-one. Fire from heaven so hot, it burns up the bull, the wood, the water, the soil, and the stones of the altar! But when Elijah hears that the queen is out to kill him, he loses his nerve and runs. He isolates, leaving his servant behind, going out to the wilderness. He is so filled with depression, the only thing he can think to say to God is please take my life, I’m as good as dead anyway.

The spiritual giant, the spokesperson for God, has left the house.

If you stopped reading right there, you’d be depressed too. But this is where the ministry begins (and I don’t mean the ministry of humans). God doesn’t ask Elijah to run – he does that on his own. God doesn’t think Elijah’s life is worthless, Elijah thinks that on his own. God doesn’t fear evil, that’s Elijah his prophet.

God, for his part, lets Elijah run – forty-one days and nights to be exact. He strengthens Elijah with fresh-baked bread, water from somewhere, and angelic presence. He knows this journey is too much for Elijah and tells him so. He doesn’t shame his human friend for his fear or lack of faith. He doesn’t remind Elijah of the miracle he’s just witnessed, or of his recent zeal for God’s holiness. And on day forty-two when Elijah reaches his destination, Mount Horeb, a.k.a. the mountain of God, God finally asks Elijah one salient question: “What are you doing here, Elijah? (v. 9)”

Of course the story doesn’t end there, and I’ll talk about the rest of it tomorrow, but chew on this today: God knows when the journey we’re taking is too much for us. Even if it’s not a journey he’s sent us on, he knows all about it, and meets us there too. The ministry of God in the midst of our fear.

PRAYER: Oh God, I run so often too. But I see how you’ve met me and provided for me, even in the midst of my fear. Thank you that your ministry supersedes my own in every way. And thank you for the lesson from Elijah, the man of God.