The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 18 July 2018 "Learning from Elijah" by Jennifer Aaron (Washington) 1 Kings 19:1-14

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The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 18 July 2018 "Learning from Elijah" by Jennifer Aaron (Washington) 1 Kings 19:1-14
Elijah said, “The Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” (1 Kings 19:10 (NRSV))
I appreciate the prophet Elijah, not because he performed miracles or challenged false prophets but because he was so honest with God about his fears. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah challenged 450 prophets of Baal to see whose god would light a sacrifice on fire. Baal failed while God succeeded.
But Queen Jezebel told Elijah she would kill him in retaliation. Suddenly Elijah’s courage vanished. He ran, hid, and asked God to let him die. Instead, God sent food to strengthen him. But Elijah still complained. He went into a cave, and when God asked why he was there, Elijah repeated his complaint even after a personal display of God’s power and presence. Showing divine patience, God told him to go anoint others who would continue to cleanse the nation.
Elijah’s honesty provides a window into how God responds to our complaints. God provided nourishment, strength, direction, and help — without condemnation. Even in Elijah’s doubt, God did not abandon him.
Elijah’s story encourages me because it shows me that I’m not the only believer whose courage falters. And I can be honest with God even when my emotions aren’t positive or reverent. Perhaps Elijah’s weakest moments strengthen me the most.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Thank you, God, for reminding us that even in our weakness, you are willing and able to work through us. Amen
TODAY'S READING: 1 Kings 19:1 Ach’av told Izevel everything Eliyahu had done and how he had put all the prophets to the sword. 2 Then Izevel sent a messenger to say to Eliyahu, “May the gods do terrible things to me and worse ones besides if by this time tomorrow I haven’t taken your life, just as you took theirs!” 3 On seeing that, he got up and fled for his life
When he arrived in Be’er-Sheva, in Y’hudah, he left his servant there; 4 but he himself went a day farther into the desert, until he came to a broom tree. He sat down under it and prayed for his own death. “Enough!” he said. “Now, Adonai, take my life. I’m no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and went to sleep. Suddenly, an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on the hot stones and a jug of water. He ate and drank, then lay down again. 7 The angel came again, a second time, touched him and said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” 8 He got up, ate and drank, and, on the strength of that meal, traveled forty days and nights until he reached Horev the mountain of God.
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. Then the word of Adonai came to him; he said to him, “What are you doing here, Eliyahu?” 10 He answered, “I have been very zealous for Adonaithe God of armies, because the people of Isra’el have abandoned your covenant, broken down your altars and killed your prophets with the sword. Now I’m the only one left, and they’re coming after me to kill me too.” 11 He said, “Go outside, and stand on the mountain before Adonai”; and right then and there, Adonai went past. A mighty blast of wind tore the mountains apart and broke the rocks in pieces before Adonai, but Adonai was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake, but Adonai was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake, fire broke out; but Adonaiwas not in the fire. And after the fire came a quiet, subdued voice. 13 When Eliyahu heard it, he covered his face with his cloak, stepped out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Then a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Eliyahu?” 14 He answered, “I have been very zealous for Adonai the God of armies; because the people of Isra’el have abandoned your covenant, broken down your altars and killed your prophets with the sword. Now I’m the only one left, and they’re after me to kill me too.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God already knows my weaknesses — and loves me anyway.
PRAYER FOCUS: Those who are discouraged***