Summer At Sea: Week 6 Day 1

1 Kings 19:1-9

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 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.”

3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, 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.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

7 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.” 8 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. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

When we would go on a family trip with three young children, I always wanted to drive through the night to make good time while the kids were asleep. In this season of life I learned the art of the power nap. More than once I hit a rest stop at 3:30 am, laid my chair back and slept for 15 minutes. It was amazing what a 15 minute power nap, followed by an energy drink could do; I think Elijah would agree.

Our passage today shows us that Elijah was weary, worn out, and eventually hit the ancient “rest stop” of a broom bush and went to sleep. Two times the Lord made him bread and gave him some water for when he woke up to strengthen him for his journey. More than once I have read this story and I have always loved the fact that there was fresh bread; it smells good, tastes amazing, and gives a pop of energy. It reminds me that a life serving the Lord has hardships, but even in the painful times, God demonstrates His kind and loving nature by providing unexpected blessings to strengthen us for the journey. 

Take a moment, and think back to a time where God provided not just what you needed, but it had that personal touch of something that refreshed your whole being.