Elijah was despondent, defeated, and depressed!
Why?
Wicked Queen Jezebel was on the warpath. She hated Elijah, so she sent Elijah a threatening email: “May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of (the dead priests) by this time tomorrow!” (1 Kings 19:2). She probably printed “Wanted: Dead or Alive” posters and distributed them far and wide.
In response, “Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life” (1 Kings 19:3). Alone, Elijah walked miles into the wilderness, far from Jezebel, far from civilization, and far from food and water. Under the low canopy of a broom tree, Elijah “prayed that he might die” (1 Kings 19:4). Elijah was despondent, defeated, and depressed!
The great Prophet had ridden the exhilarating excitement of walking with God and witnessing God’s extraordinary power as fire fell from Heaven. For years, Elijah had trusted God, and God had faithfully provided. But then, Jezebel did her little dance!
Elijah was a bit like Peter. The fisherman had stepped out of the boat onto the angry waves of Galilee. He walked on water! But when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and gazed at the wind and the waves, he sank. Elijah had taken his eyes off the Mighty God and was busy focusing on the wicked Queen and her deadly threats.
Did God lose track of Elijah? “Where did he go now?” Did God shrug His shoulders and say, “Fine! Die, you big baby!” Nope! God knew where Elijah had gone. He always knows.
God met Elijah right where he was. The Almighty came near.
Under the shade of the broom tree, God again provided for Elijah’s needs. As Elijah lay sleeping, “an angel touched him. The angel told him, ‘Get up and eat.’ Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again” (1 Kings 19:5–6). God is good!
Have you ever camped out under the broom tree? Let me challenge you… quit worrying about Jezebel and focus on Jesus!
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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