So how would you write the next chapter?

Have you ever parked yourself under a broom tree in the midst of the wilderness and had a pity party? Well, maybe not under a broom tree in the midst of the wilderness, but we've all likely thrown some pity parties in our time (though we don't usually invite guests). What fascinates me in the story of Elijah and wicked King Ahab is not so much that someone threw a pity party, as it is the timing of the pity party that was thrown, and the one that threw it.

In chapter 18 of 1 Kings Elijah had bravely confronted the wicked King Ahab and the wicked propehts of Baal in the midst of a severe famine.

He then proceeded to slay the wicked prophets of Baal and witness an apparent change of heart among many of God's people. If you were going to write chapter 19 of 1 Kings based on what you guessed would happen next, what do you think you would guess?

I probably would expect this to spark a great revival in the land, the dethroning or death of wicked King Ahab and Jezebel, and a time of great blessing for Elijah. But I would have been wrong. Instead, we find Elijah leaving his great victory at Mt. Carmel, and fleeing for his life into the wilderness where he is so despondent that he even asks the Lord to take him home.

What is that all about? Well, for starters it's about being human. No matter how much God has demonstrated His love and care for us in the past, no matter how many times God has used us in amazing ways, we are in constant need of reassurance. Most of us are quite insecure when it comes right down to it.

For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God. Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. O God, the proud have risen against me, And a mob of violent men have sought my life, And have not set You before them. But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, And save the son of Your maidservant. Show me a sign for good, That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, Because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me. (Psa 86:10-17)

God WILL help you, and God WILL comfort you.

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.