“Face Your Journey To The Mountain Of The LORD!””Face Your Journey To The Mountain Of The LORD!”(I Kgs.19:1-8).
“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.’ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he travelled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.”
Elijah had just had a contest with the prophets of Baal. When Baal failed the contest, Elijah had the 450 prophets of Baal slaughtered. Evil Queen Jezebel vowed to do the same to Elijah.
When Elijah heard the threats of Jezebel, he “was afraid and ran for his life.” The threat of imminent danger was too much that he prayed to God and said, “I have had enough, LORD. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
Isn’t it worrying to see a powerful prophet who had just called a powerful God to bring down rain after some years of drought – and the rain came? This is the prophet who had just killed 450 prophets of Baal running like a “ngong” dog with its tail between it’s hindlegs! Mighty Elijah running away from the mere threats of a woman!
This is to tell you that Jezebel was not just a woman. She was the major reason for Israel’s apostacy. She was an incarnation of evil! The king, her husband cowed under her authority!
The fact that Elijah was afraid of Jezebel does not mean God’s power was put to test. In later days, Jesus himself often dodged his enemies, until the right time.
Elijah prayed and wished for death. If his prayer was genuine, then there was no reason running away from Jezebel’s threats. Such a prayer is a cry of desperation to God with the hope that he will rescue you from the tight corner.
When we battle with the forces of evil – especially structural evil – designed and implemented through political systems, we risk facing the wrath of the Jezebels in high places.
There is comfort and assurance in such situations. When we think that we have come to the end of the road, God sends his angels to feed us so that we can have strength for the journey.
The journey may be as long as the symbolic forty days and forty nights, the LORD feeds us through his angel so that we remain strong until the journey’s end.
Dear friend, never give up when God has not given up on you. Jezebel and her Baals are no match for the LORD, for nobody battles with the LORD and wins. You are going to overcome all obstacles until you reach the mountain of God!
Prayer of the day and week: Heavenly Father, as we face the challenges of life and loss our confidences, we pray you to send us victuals that will give us strength for the journey. Amen!
Welcome to a new working day and week! Have a blessed working day and week! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.