#DailyDevotion When Stressed Out Come To The Bread Of Life & Be Strengtheend
1 Kings 19:5-8 5He lay down under a broom tree and slept. Then an angel came and touched him. “Get up and eat,” he told him. 6When he looked, he saw near his head some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.7The angel came back again and touched him. “Get up and eat,” he told him, “or your journey will be too much for you.”8He got up, ate, and drank. Strengthened by that food, he went on for 40 days and nights till he came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
The LORD, the God of Israel, is merciful and kind. Elijah is running because of the threats of the queen of Israel. He is acting in fear instead of faith. Yet, the LORD is watching over Elijah as he flees her reach. He has come to this place and an angel of the LORD is sent to take care of Elijah and to provide for him. Twice he comes to Elijah preparing for him food to strengthen him. Now what we don’t know at this point is Elijah’s journey already foreknown to the LORD or has the LORD giving a direction to Elijah to go to the mountain of the LORD. The angel’s words seem to imply he knows Elijah is planning on journeying further. On the other hand, it could very well be the angel, unbeknownst to us, has told Elijah to go to Mt. Horeb to meet the LORD there. We do know the LORD, once Elijah gets there, asks Elijah why he is there—not that he doesn’t know but rather wants Elijah to tell him (like asking Adam, “Where are you.”)
Elijah spends the next 40 days getting to Mt. Horeb and he does it strengthened by the food given him by the angel. By Elijah’s response to the LORD once he gets there, it seems to me he has spent the time in anxiety for his life. He is not trusting the LORD in this situation. The LORD nevertheless is looking after him and never leaves him or forsakes him. Jezebel asked that the gods punish her again and again if by the next day Elijah isn’t found and killed. Well, Elijah isn’t found by then and even more so, there is forty plus days before he shows his face in Israel. The LORD God, the Living God, the only one and true God will see to it Jezebel’s promise comes to pass and she is killed and then eaten by dogs.
So what is going to strengthen you when everything seems to be going wrong? What is going to to feed you because the world seems like it is going mad and you are the only one left and you feel everyone and everything is against you? It is the Bread of Life who is Jesus Christ. The LORD our God has given you pastors to feed you with this Bread of Life to encourage and strengthen you for the days ahead. The promises God has made in Christ Jesus to you is your food for the day. “Man does not live by bread alone but from every word that comes from the mouth of God.” What? Do you think this is some trifling proverb? It is a direction for you. Jesus said, “Come to Me, and you will never be hungry. Believe in Me, and you will never be thirsty.” So now, come to Jesus in the mouth of your pastor and believe the good news he speaks to you. Your Father in heaven cares for you and provides for you before you even open your mouth. Your angel in heaven always faces your Father interceding for you. You have been promised eternal life and a kingdom where righteousness reigns. Your reward is being kept safe in heaven where it can’t be lost and it is waiting for you. The world no matter what it throws at you can never take it away. So do not fear the world but trust in Jesus’ promises and you will not hunger or thirst for righteousness. It will be given unto you.
Heavenly Father, help us to trust you are taking care of us when we are disturbed so in the end we may receive from you the salvation of our souls and receive all your benefits. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.