1 Kings 19:1-8
Psalm 145
John 6:1-14
Elijah was the mightiest of prophets. It was to Elijah that John the Baptist was compared. It was Elijah that appeared with Moses at the Mount of Transfiguration. It was Elijah who prayed rain down by the barrel to show that God was the only true God. But, it is also Elijah that we see running from Queen Jezebel, terrified for his life. He leaves his servant behind as he goes into the desert. He tells God that he has had enough. He’s done for. He might as well be like his ancestors who are all dead. He’s got nothing left to give. He’s burned out.
Now you and I could think of all kinds of motivational speeches to get him back on his feet, most of them not very kind. We would remind him of all that God had done through him and ask how he could possibly find himself in this condition. What was wrong with him? Pluck up! Get going. How could he be afraid of a little thing like a murderous queen? Thankfully God is not like one of us. Elijah vents his distress and falls into an exhausted sleep. When he awakes, an angel has prepared warm bread and cool water for him. Elijah eats and falls asleep, rises to eat another meal prepared for him and is finally revitalized enough to move ahead on his long 40-day journey to meet God at Mount Horeb. Elijah started out running from something. At the end of our reading he is running toward Someone. So what has happened to change him from a cringing, fearful, old wreck of a burnout into someone with a purpose willing to face a long journey? Elijah has been ministered to by a loving and compassionate God. He has been given time and space and physical support in the form of warm food and cool water. He has been allowed to rest and regroup. He gets prepared for a meeting with God.
Our God longs to feed us. Jesus demonstrates this by feeding the five thousand. He teaches us to ask the Father for our daily bread. He longs for us to rest. Jesus says “come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden.” We miscast God if we see him as an unrelenting taskmaster. We malign his character if we see him beating the down trodden to greater effort. Psalm 34:8 says “O taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 145:14 says “The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down . . .He gives them their food. . . he is loving toward all that he has made.”
Are you feeling a little browbeaten by the obligations, excesses and festivities of the holiday season? Feeling a little burned out? Suffering compassion fatigue? Running from all the “murderous queen Jezebels” that lay in wait in this New Year 2012? Spend a little time in the “desert.” Let God know how you feel. Rest. Eat moderately of what God has given you. Give yourself time to regroup and restore. In the fullness of time you will be fit to journey again. You will find that you are running toward instead of away from life. And in your quiet solitude you will experience the God that is loving and compassionate toward all he has made including you!
