There is no
indication that Elijah knew what he was going to do or where he was going, he
just knew that he didn’t want to be in Samaria. He had had enough, he was
tired, disillusioned and fed up, he didn’t want to be a prophet anymore, he
just wanted to run away. Given what appears to be Elijah’s act of disobedience
it would not be unreasonable to imagine that the first time he encountered God
he would expect to be accused, punished or at least admonished. But in fact his
first heavenly visitor was an angel sent by God to give him food and drink.
While
Elijah slept an angel came to him, touched him and woke with the words ‘Arise
and eat’. As Elijah sat up he found hot cakes and water. It seems that Elijah
didn’t even get up, but he sat where he was had a little food and some water
and went back to sleep. No doubt Elijah was exhausted but it does seem
reasonable that if an angel wakes you in the middle of the night and tells you
to get up, then you will do as suggested! In any event Elijah didn’t. Once
again God did not come and chastise or punish him but he again sent the angel,
this time he gave the instruction to arise and eat but added that he had a
journey in front of him and he would need to food to keep him going. This time
Elijah got up.
Twice an
angel came to Elijah with a message from God. The first time Elijah enjoyed the
blessings he had been provided but ignored the instruction to ‘arise’ the
second time he enjoyed the blessing and obeyed! Such is the mercy and grace of
God that instead of punishing Elijah’s disobedience in running away, he met him
at his place of need. And even then when it seems that Elijah was still
unwilling to get back on track he ministered to him. Too often it seems that we
have the opinion that when we fail God in some way or turn away from his will from
us God is waiting to punish or admonish us. The truth is God is our heavenly
father who is well aware of our weakness and while it grieves him when we make
decisions that result in moving out of his will his first concern is for our
welfare. Human parents are often frustrated by what at times seems to be the
willful disobedience of our children, but when children suffer or come to harm
those same parents are usually the first to run to their assistance. If this is
true of us as mere humans, how much would it be so of our Father in Heaven?
Elijah had disobeyed and was now sleeping under a bush in the desert, he was
suffering from the result of the choices he made, but rather than come and
punish him God met his need. He knew that Elijah needed sleep and food and he
graciously allowed him to have these things. Not only that, but twice he came
to him, he overlooked the fact that the first time he told Elijah to get up he
didn’t, he simply restated the instruction.
On occasion
you may find yourself running from God or at least feeling sorry for yourself
and sulking under a tree somewhere as far from where you think God is that you
can be. Even there he will find you, and he will do so because he loves you and
he wants to set you back on your feet. God will not come with accusation or
harsh words; he will send his angels to minister to you at your place of need.
God’s greatest desire is to re-establish you in the plans he has for you, he
will send his angels to assist you to get back on track. If you feel far from
God, if you have run from him in disappointment then allow his angels to meet
your needs and when they tell you to get up then listen to what they say
because there is a long journey ahead of you!
I don’t
know what was in the food the angel gave to Elijah but it must have been some
meal. He was able to travel in the strength of that food for forty days and
nights! The Bible doesn’t state whether Elijah had discussed his destination
with God, but it is evident that God knew where he was going because the angel
told Elijah that he had a long journey ahead of him. The fact is that even when
we think we are running away from God he knows exactly where we are going and
when we will get there. God is never taken by surprise, the psalmist writes
that even though we go to the ends of the earth, God is there, if we were to
take ‘the wings of the morning, and dwell in the innermost parts of the sea,
even there your right hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me’
(Psalm 139:9). Elijah may have thought his destination was hidden from God, but
it wasn’t. He may have thought that he was on his own, but he wasn’t. God was
with him every step of the way.
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