Devotional--Hope, Part II

1 Kings 19:1-6

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.’

3Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.’

5Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, ‘Get up and eat.’ 6He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again.
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  To summarize all that had happened before, Jezebel was seriously not happy with Elijah.  And then Elijah killed all of the prophets of Baal, and Jezebel was looking forward to adding Elijah to the subgroup of 'dead prophets'.

  Ever feel like your enemies are rising up around you?  Like your competitors at work are sizing up your cubicle, so that they can take it over when they have pushed you aside?  Like others who oppose you have finally gained enough strength to dispose of you, to conquer you, to leave you behind?  Ever feel like there is no hope that you will be protected from pain?

  I can't imagine what it was like for Elijah as he fled for his life, certain that the end would come at any time.  At one point he asks the Lord for permission to die!

  But I can imagine his relief when he falls asleep, awakes, and finds that the Lord has provided a meal.  Sometimes hope looks like a nap and a good meal.  Sometimes it is the simple awareness that the Lord sends angels to dwell with us and encourage us.  Sometimes the angels simply remind us that the Lord is looking out for us.

  When it seems like our enemies are about to win, may we find hope in the Lord's presence with us, and trust in his grace.

Blessings