REFRESH
As we begin this devotion, join us in reading 1 Kings: 19: 5-18:
When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life to Beersheba, far in the south of Judah. He left his young servant there and then went on into the desert another day’s journey. He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all—to just die: “Enough of this, God! Take my life—I’m ready to join my ancestors in the grave!” Exhausted, he fell asleep under the lone broom bush.
Suddenly an angel shook him awake and said, “Get up and eat!”
He looked around and, to his surprise, right by his head were a loaf of bread baked on some coals and a jug of water. He ate the meal and went back to sleep. The angel of God came back, shook him awake again, and said, “Get up and eat some more—you’ve got a long journey ahead of you.” He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep.
Then the word of God came to him: “So Elijah, what are you doing here?” “I’ve been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies,” said Elijah. “The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me.”
Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.” A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.
When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, “So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?” Elijah said it again, “I’ve been working my heart out for God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me.”
God said, “Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. When you get there anoint Hazael; make him king over Aram. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him king over Israel. Finally, anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Anyone who escapes death by Hazael will be killed by Jehu; and anyone who escapes death by Jehu will be killed by Elisha. Meanwhile, I’m preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that haven’t bowed to the god Baal, the mouths that haven’t kissed his image.”
Let’s go back to verse 5:
An angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”
Elijah is physically, spiritually, and emotionally exhausted. He is also running for his life and wants God to end it. In this moment of great need, God provides refreshment beyond comparison. God first meets Elijah’s physical needs: food, water, and sleep. Then God fortifies Elijah for a forty-day journey and an encounter that meets his spiritual needs.
God is not finished with Elijah. A journey directed by God to the mountain of God brings Elijah to an encounter with God. Elijah is able to cry out to God from the brokenness of his condition. Elijah is distraught and even a bit disoriented as he complains that he is the only prophet left.
God takes it all in and then shows up—not in the wind or earthquake or fire, but in a gentle whisper. Elijah needs to listen closely as God gives him a new assignment that includes the anointing of new kings and a successor to himself as prophet.
Then, finally, God confirms to Elijah that he is not alone. The Lord has reserved 7,000 faithful believers among the people of Israel.
On our journey of faith we too need refreshment. We need God to provide for us physically, spiritually, and emotionally. The wonder of the walk of grace is that God does just that—again and again.
That is why we go into events like this weekend … to be refreshed.
This passage reminds us:
we should be honest before God
we are not alone
he will provide for us
he will equip us
he will wake us up from our sleep
he will blow our minds
I cannot wait to see what God does is our midst this week … may we enter into his presence with a heart ready to be shaken and a mouth ready to eat of His goodness.