After the experiencing the amazing miracle of God in front of the Prophets and politicians of Israel on Mount Carmel Elijah now found himself in one of the lowest times of his life. He arrived back in the lowlands and heard that Jezebel had issued a death threat against him. He now suddenly felt very insecure in himself and in his faith. Where was God now? How could God let this happen? He thought God would protect him.
At Beersheba, the oppression of the threat became so great that Elijah went off into the desert and sat under a broom tree. He just wanted to die. He thought God had left him after leaving Mount Carmel. Elijah didn’t care any longer. He wanted to die. He thought he had failed, sinned in some way. If Jezebel caught up with him, then that didn’t matter any longer. He thought God seemed to be no longer interested in him, that he wasn’t answering his prayers. Elijah did not realise that it was the Angel of the Lord who came to him with food and drink, who looked after him during his time in the desert. God did still have his hand on Elijah’s life. God did want to nourish him, help him and be with him, but now it was Elijah who had shut the door.
Elijah needed to find God for himself again. Elijah did not know God was with him, trying to lead him. God had planned Elijah to go on a long journey, hence the nourishment God provided for him. God had prepared for Elijah to go to the desert of Damascus, to anoint Hazael, Jehu and Elisha in their various roles, however, Elijah had lost faith in God and wanted to search him. In his own mind and knowing the history of Israel, he know Moses had met with God and talked with God on Mount Sinai (Mount Horeb), and so in his stupor, he seemingly, aimlessly, walked down the country into the desert of Sinai to Mount Horeb. He took 40 days and nights to reach the mountain. He was looking for God, perhaps everywhere along the way too. He must have been very heavy hearted, trying to avoid people along the way, trying to lift himself out of his depression. In his mind though, he knew he could find and meet with God on this mountain.
Elijah moved from one mountain experience to another, through a tough valley experience along the way.
As Elijah reached the mountain and rested in a cave, he perhaps did start to relax his thoughts, and to open up for the first time in those 40 days, he started to seek God and sure enough, God was there.
Then the Lord, instead of rebuking Elijah outright, educated him further by telling him that God was always with him wherever he was, not just in the dramatic, amazing times, but also in the quiet times, the gentle whispers, like as he had sat under the broom tree. It did not always have to be fire, thunder and lightening.
God lifted Elijah out of his depression, but not callously, however gently, after all, the death threat still stood. God had planned for Elijah to escape by going to Damascus, but now Elijah was 40 days behind schedule. God redirects Elijah’s path, tells him to go and find Hazael, Jehu and Elisha. Elijah has to retrace his steps back up the Country, but now knowing that God is by his side, he must have run back making up lost time, elated because God would be with him always, protecting him and nourishing him spiritually as well as physically.
No comments:
Post a Comment