Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
And the word of the Lord came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
He replied, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
He replied, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
The Lord said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."
1 Kings 19:9b-18
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Are you presently feeling or have you ever felt like life has you on the run? And in that pursuit, you’re not sure if you can keep running from the challenges that life brings whether they be financial, emotional, physical or psychological?
If so, then you can relate to Elijah in today’s scripture. You’ll recall at the beginning of Chapter 19 that Jezebel, already with a nasty reputation for killing prophets, was hot on Elijah’s trail…so much so that scripture told us he ran for his life. His running took him to a broom tree in the desert where Elijah stopped and prayed the Lord might kill him instead of him falling victim to Jezebel. And as Elijah slept, you’ll recall that the Lord woke him and brought him food and drink twice before sending him off for forty days and night, initially strengthened to carry on despite Jezebel’s pursuit but soon weary and beginning to lose hope again.
For as Elijah awakened from his sleep in the cave, we read where the Lord asks him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?" To which Elijah explained his situation, stating that he had been “very zealous for the Lord” but the Israelites rejected His covenant and broke down His altars while putting the Lord’s prophets “to death with the sword” leaving only Elijah surviving. And now his life was in peril.
We have seen earlier in this chapter and throughout scripture where God is always there for His people when they need Him most in accordance with His perfect will and way. As we will see, this time becomes no different…and the message the Lord means to share with us is that we need to continue to trust in Him, no matter how tough times might become.
For as Elijah was feeling forlorn and downcast, the Lord tells him to, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." What an awesome proclamation this must have been! Can you imagine yourself in the place of Elijah? That in your biggest time of need the Lord tells you to go outside and watch because He was about to pass by? I don’t know about you but I would move pretty fast to be where the Lord told me to go. And Elijah did just that.
So how did the Lord appear to Elijah? In what way do you think Elijah expected to see Him? In what way would you expect to see Him?
Well, we first see where “a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord”. Now that might be a sign of the Lord’s presence…one that would make total sense because we know we serve a God who can move mountains. But guess what? Scripture tells us that “the Lord was not in the wind”.
Next, we read where an earthquake followed the wind. Surely, that was the sign that the Lord was there. Who else could make the earth tremble? But “the Lord was not in the earthquake”.
What do you think Elijah was thinking at this point? A strong wind tore the mountains apart and shattered rocks and an earthquake shook the earth but neither act revealed the Lord. How much more power would be displayed? Elijah had to think there was something pretty phenomenal in store. Wouldn’t you?
So what happened after the earthquake?
Scripture tells us that fire was next. We don’t know how vast and damaging the fire was but it had to be impressive because the Lord doesn’t do anything that isn’t. So surely the Lord was in the fire.
He wasn’t.
OK…so no Lord in the strong wind. No Lord in the earthquake. And no Lord in the fire.
So how did the Lord come? In the way that Elijah…and us as well…would have least expected it. For after the fire came a quiet whisper…the Lord’s whisper…and when Elijah heard it, it led him to pull his cloak “over his face” as he “went out and stood at the mouth of the cave”. There, the Lord brought him specific instruction to anoint two kings, Hazael over Aram and Jehu over Israel. Elijah was also told to anoint Elisha as his successor…as the next great prophet of Israel. The kings and Elisha would put the people of Israel to the sword who broke the Lord’s covenant commands but the Lord chose to spare “seven thousand in Israel” because they all had “not bowed down to Baal” nor kissed him with their mouths. Their obedience would be what saved them.
So what is the take away from this scripture for us? What is the Lord trying to teach us?
He trying to teach us that He will and can come in whatever way He wishes…and we need to be ready to receive Him in any way He chooses to come in the midst of our circumstances. For the Lord doesn’t always come with great fanfare.
Yes…He can come in strong destructive winds. Yes…He can come in the earth-shaking power of an earthquake. And yes, He can be found in the destructive nature of fire.
But we must also keep in mind that He can be found in a gentle whisper...especially spoken for us to help us in the midst of our circumstances.
The question is…will we be listening when He does?
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
THERE WHEN WE NEED HIM MOST
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."
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 desert. He came to a broom tree, 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 tree 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 a cake of 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." So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.
1 Kings 19:1-9a
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
If you recall back in Chapter 18 of 1st Kings, Jezebel had a reputation for killing prophets (1 Kings 18:4), so much so that Elijah had to come to the rescue of many of them, saving 100 by having them hide in caves. Without the help of Elijah, those prophets would have surely died.
Further, Elijah had ordered all the prophets of Baal killed after God showed everyone who the real God was by sending fire to consume the water-soaked sacrifice prepared by Elijah after the Baal worshipers were unable to get a reply from their false god.
So as Chapter 19 opens, we find Jezebel being informed about Elijah’s actions by the wicked king Ahab…which caused her to turn her attention solely upon Elijah. The one who had saved the prophets before now was in danger himself.
And so we read where Elijah was “afraid and ran for his life”, taking his servant with him as he went to “Beersheba in Judah”. Who was going to come to Elijah’s rescue? Who would save him?
Once at Beersheba, we read where “he left his servant” and “went a day's journey into the desert” where he eventually “came to a broom tree” where he “sat down…and prayed that he might die”. Frightened and unsure what was ahead, Elijah cried out to the Lord saying:
"I have had enough, Lord…Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."
And with that, he “lay down under the tree and fell asleep”.
Question: How many times have you been at a place like where Elijah was? Afraid…under duress of some kind…ready to just give up feeling you would just be better off dead, even going as far as asking God to take your life from you.
Maybe you are under your own “broom tree” this very moment, feeling like you’ve had enough within your circumstances…feeling like it’s time to just give it all up.
Well, our scripture today gives us hope…hope for us when we are in despair…hope for us when we feel up against life’s challenges…hope for when we’re just ready to give up. For in this passage, we’re reminded of the presence and the power of the Lord…the One and only One who can grant us the strength to carry on…the only One who is there when we need Him most.
As we see, He was there for Elijah in the midst of his circumstance. For as Elijah fell asleep feeling defeated, the Lord sent an angel to him with provisions and guidance. We read where the angel touched Elijah and urged him to “get up and eat”. And when Elijah did, what a sight he saw. For there was a “cake of bread” which had been “baked over hot coals” laying by his head with a “jar of water” which Elijah “ate and drank” before lying down again…now nourished.
We read then that the “angel of the Lord” returned a “second time and touched him” again telling him to “Get up and eat” because “the journey is too much for you”. And with that, Elijah once again “got up and ate and drank” receiving strength from the food to travel “forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God” where ironically, he went into his own cave and spent the night…much like the prophets he had saved from Jezebel earlier.
When Elijah needed help most, there was the Lord…providing and guiding him…strengthening and protecting him. And the good news is that He stands ready to do the same for anyone who just places their faith and trust in Him.
One thing is certain. We all will have our faith tested in the course of this life on earth that we have been given by God. How we respond to those tests will speak volumes as to how well we are or aren’t trusting Him to take care of us…to deliver us…and to strengthen us to carry on and move toward the better days that He has ahead.
Just trust in Him…the One who is there when we need Him most.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."
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 desert. He came to a broom tree, 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 tree 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 a cake of 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." So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.
1 Kings 19:1-9a
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
If you recall back in Chapter 18 of 1st Kings, Jezebel had a reputation for killing prophets (1 Kings 18:4), so much so that Elijah had to come to the rescue of many of them, saving 100 by having them hide in caves. Without the help of Elijah, those prophets would have surely died.
Further, Elijah had ordered all the prophets of Baal killed after God showed everyone who the real God was by sending fire to consume the water-soaked sacrifice prepared by Elijah after the Baal worshipers were unable to get a reply from their false god.
So as Chapter 19 opens, we find Jezebel being informed about Elijah’s actions by the wicked king Ahab…which caused her to turn her attention solely upon Elijah. The one who had saved the prophets before now was in danger himself.
And so we read where Elijah was “afraid and ran for his life”, taking his servant with him as he went to “Beersheba in Judah”. Who was going to come to Elijah’s rescue? Who would save him?
Once at Beersheba, we read where “he left his servant” and “went a day's journey into the desert” where he eventually “came to a broom tree” where he “sat down…and prayed that he might die”. Frightened and unsure what was ahead, Elijah cried out to the Lord saying:
"I have had enough, Lord…Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."
And with that, he “lay down under the tree and fell asleep”.
Question: How many times have you been at a place like where Elijah was? Afraid…under duress of some kind…ready to just give up feeling you would just be better off dead, even going as far as asking God to take your life from you.
Maybe you are under your own “broom tree” this very moment, feeling like you’ve had enough within your circumstances…feeling like it’s time to just give it all up.
Well, our scripture today gives us hope…hope for us when we are in despair…hope for us when we feel up against life’s challenges…hope for when we’re just ready to give up. For in this passage, we’re reminded of the presence and the power of the Lord…the One and only One who can grant us the strength to carry on…the only One who is there when we need Him most.
As we see, He was there for Elijah in the midst of his circumstance. For as Elijah fell asleep feeling defeated, the Lord sent an angel to him with provisions and guidance. We read where the angel touched Elijah and urged him to “get up and eat”. And when Elijah did, what a sight he saw. For there was a “cake of bread” which had been “baked over hot coals” laying by his head with a “jar of water” which Elijah “ate and drank” before lying down again…now nourished.
We read then that the “angel of the Lord” returned a “second time and touched him” again telling him to “Get up and eat” because “the journey is too much for you”. And with that, Elijah once again “got up and ate and drank” receiving strength from the food to travel “forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God” where ironically, he went into his own cave and spent the night…much like the prophets he had saved from Jezebel earlier.
When Elijah needed help most, there was the Lord…providing and guiding him…strengthening and protecting him. And the good news is that He stands ready to do the same for anyone who just places their faith and trust in Him.
One thing is certain. We all will have our faith tested in the course of this life on earth that we have been given by God. How we respond to those tests will speak volumes as to how well we are or aren’t trusting Him to take care of us…to deliver us…and to strengthen us to carry on and move toward the better days that He has ahead.
Just trust in Him…the One who is there when we need Him most.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
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