1 Kings 19:7-8
"And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God."
We serve a God Who is intimately aquatinted with what it means to be human. He has suffered and felt pain. Temptation has afflicted Him in every way we have ever experienced, yet He never gave in.
It's so easy to get upset when things go poorly, to grumble and complain, or even worse to blame God in anger. However, He knows when the journey is too great for us. He knows our limits better than we do. He knows how much we can take when we depends on Him.
A key thing to notice here is that God didn't say, "This is too hard for you, Elijah. I'm just going to make all your problems go away." No, instead God provided what Elijah needed in order to finish the journey set before him.
Do not ask God to end your journey, ask Him to give you strength for one more step.
Monday, July 4, 2016
Take Away My Life
1 Kings 19:4
"But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers."
One might expect jubilation after all the wonderful things that Elijah had seen God do in the short span of a day. After 3 years of subsisting solely on God's amazing, miraculous provision on a daily basis, Elijah saw God being down fire from Heaven, turn the hearts of Israel, cause him to run faster and longer than humanly possible, and send rain. Yet despite all this Elijah is cowed into desperate fear for his life due to a message from Jezebel.
This demonstrates that you cannot coast on "auxiliary faith". You cannot store up enough extra trust that you can do without it for awhile. No, faith and trust in God must be a moment by moment, conscious choice.
Am I making that choice today to trust God?
"But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers."
One might expect jubilation after all the wonderful things that Elijah had seen God do in the short span of a day. After 3 years of subsisting solely on God's amazing, miraculous provision on a daily basis, Elijah saw God being down fire from Heaven, turn the hearts of Israel, cause him to run faster and longer than humanly possible, and send rain. Yet despite all this Elijah is cowed into desperate fear for his life due to a message from Jezebel.
This demonstrates that you cannot coast on "auxiliary faith". You cannot store up enough extra trust that you can do without it for awhile. No, faith and trust in God must be a moment by moment, conscious choice.
Am I making that choice today to trust God?
The Hand of the Lord
1 Kings 18:46
"And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel."
The Bible tells us that the stars are God's handiwork. Incomprehensibly giant orbs of blazing gases, burning in a way we hardly even understand let alone replicate, are what God created as His handiwork. When most think of something done as handiwork, we might think of knitting or whittling. God's handiwork is on a scale we cannot even comprehend.
God is compared to a potter in Scripture, forming us, His lumps of clay, with those same hands that formed the stars. Those same hands that touched the eyes of the blind man, and picked the lame up to stand on their feet. The same hands that held children and blessed them and broke bread to feed a hungry crowd. Those same hands that would one day be nailed to a cross and bleed for our salvation.
That was the hand that was on Elijah. Many miracles happened that day in Elijah's life, however perhaps the greatest is the hand of the Creator God, deigning to rest on His lowly creation.
Have I ever seen God's hand on my life? Why did Elijah see that in his?
"And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel."
The Bible tells us that the stars are God's handiwork. Incomprehensibly giant orbs of blazing gases, burning in a way we hardly even understand let alone replicate, are what God created as His handiwork. When most think of something done as handiwork, we might think of knitting or whittling. God's handiwork is on a scale we cannot even comprehend.
God is compared to a potter in Scripture, forming us, His lumps of clay, with those same hands that formed the stars. Those same hands that touched the eyes of the blind man, and picked the lame up to stand on their feet. The same hands that held children and blessed them and broke bread to feed a hungry crowd. Those same hands that would one day be nailed to a cross and bleed for our salvation.
That was the hand that was on Elijah. Many miracles happened that day in Elijah's life, however perhaps the greatest is the hand of the Creator God, deigning to rest on His lowly creation.
Have I ever seen God's hand on my life? Why did Elijah see that in his?
Thursday, June 23, 2016
My Response to God's Power
1 Kings 18:42 "So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,"
Mount Carmel is absolutely the highlight of Elijah's life up to this point as far as we know. However, his reaction to God's unfathomable power demonstrated at his request is not what most would expect.
When something we've been working toward and preparing for goes right, we love to celebrate, and there's nothing wrong with that at the proper time. Elijah knew this was not the proper time.
His reaction to Mount Carmel was to put his face to the earth and wait on God. Absolutely incredible. After at least 3 years of nothing but daily, desperate waiting on God, Elijah finally sees his patience rewarded. And his response is to wait on God more.
Ponder that.
Mount Carmel is absolutely the highlight of Elijah's life up to this point as far as we know. However, his reaction to God's unfathomable power demonstrated at his request is not what most would expect.
When something we've been working toward and preparing for goes right, we love to celebrate, and there's nothing wrong with that at the proper time. Elijah knew this was not the proper time.
His reaction to Mount Carmel was to put his face to the earth and wait on God. Absolutely incredible. After at least 3 years of nothing but daily, desperate waiting on God, Elijah finally sees his patience rewarded. And his response is to wait on God more.
Ponder that.
Gray Areas
1 Kings 18:40 "And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there."
Darkness and light cannot occupy the same space. When we choose light with our whole heart, darkness is by definition chased out and replaced.
Elijah disposing of the false prophets of Baal is a striking example of how we are to deal with evil in our lives. God is perfect and holy and calls His children to be the same. What fellowship does light have with darkness? None whatsoever.
Are there areas of darkness in my life I need to dispose of with the light of Christ? Are there "gray areas" that need examined?
Darkness and light cannot occupy the same space. When we choose light with our whole heart, darkness is by definition chased out and replaced.
Elijah disposing of the false prophets of Baal is a striking example of how we are to deal with evil in our lives. God is perfect and holy and calls His children to be the same. What fellowship does light have with darkness? None whatsoever.
Are there areas of darkness in my life I need to dispose of with the light of Christ? Are there "gray areas" that need examined?
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
The Fire of the Lord
1 Kings 18:38-39
"Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God."
When God works, He does not do things halfway. It would've been enough to consume the sacrifice, but in order to leave absolutely no doubt whatsoever, the wood, the stones, the dust and all the water are devoured by God's fire. It was clear and obvious Who was God.
After such a demonstration, the reaction of the people is what you would expect. When we witness God's breathtaking power, our only response can be awe and praise.
What ways has God's work been shown unquestionably in my life? If I can't recall a time, perhaps I need to begin praying for Him to work in a way that is beyond my comfort zone and open my eyes to ways He is working I may not see.
"Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God."
When God works, He does not do things halfway. It would've been enough to consume the sacrifice, but in order to leave absolutely no doubt whatsoever, the wood, the stones, the dust and all the water are devoured by God's fire. It was clear and obvious Who was God.
After such a demonstration, the reaction of the people is what you would expect. When we witness God's breathtaking power, our only response can be awe and praise.
What ways has God's work been shown unquestionably in my life? If I can't recall a time, perhaps I need to begin praying for Him to work in a way that is beyond my comfort zone and open my eyes to ways He is working I may not see.
Dependence and Obedience
1 Kings 18:36-37
"And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again."
We see what God did through Elijah at Mount Carmel and marvel. As well we should. The demonstration of God's power is awe inspiring. It stirs in each of God's children a desire to be used like that. A desire to see God's power in an amazing, tangible way where the hearts of a nation can be turned back again.
However, when we become frustrated that God perhaps is not working that way in our lives, we must remember two things. First, Elijah was waiting in the wilderness and with the widow for at least three years before God called him out. And during that time, Elijah was learning every single day what it meant to rely completely and utterly on God. Second, the key phrase Elijah says is, "I have done all these things at Thy word..." The challenge to the false prophets of Baal was not a whim of Elijah's, but direct guidance from the God Elijah had become so sensitive to.
A lifestyle of utter dependence on God and a willingness to listen and obey, doing all things at His word. This is what it took to get Elijah to Mount Carmel. Are these things I'm allowing God to build in my life?
"And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again."
We see what God did through Elijah at Mount Carmel and marvel. As well we should. The demonstration of God's power is awe inspiring. It stirs in each of God's children a desire to be used like that. A desire to see God's power in an amazing, tangible way where the hearts of a nation can be turned back again.
However, when we become frustrated that God perhaps is not working that way in our lives, we must remember two things. First, Elijah was waiting in the wilderness and with the widow for at least three years before God called him out. And during that time, Elijah was learning every single day what it meant to rely completely and utterly on God. Second, the key phrase Elijah says is, "I have done all these things at Thy word..." The challenge to the false prophets of Baal was not a whim of Elijah's, but direct guidance from the God Elijah had become so sensitive to.
A lifestyle of utter dependence on God and a willingness to listen and obey, doing all things at His word. This is what it took to get Elijah to Mount Carmel. Are these things I'm allowing God to build in my life?
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