January 1, 2024

1 Kings 19:1-9 (HCSB)
Elijah’s Journey to Horeb
19 Ahab told Jezebel  everything that Elijah had done  and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.  2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely  if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”
3 Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life.  When he came to Beer-sheba  that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there,  4 but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree  and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life,  for I’m no better than my fathers.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.
Suddenly, an angel touched him.  The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water.  So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lord  returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” 8 So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked 40 days and 40 nights  to Horeb, the mountain of God.  9 He entered a cave  there and spent the night.
Elijah’s Encounter with the Lord
Then the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Pastor HD Jones
God’s questions are always intriguing and to the point.    He asked Adam “where are you”?; He asked Peter “do you love me”?; and He asked Elijah “what are you doing here”?
This was Elijah’s second wilderness experience.  Earlier in his ministry God directed Elijah to go into the wilderness for a time of refreshment and reflection.         Now Elijah puts himself in the wilderness out of fear and frustration.  The experience at Mt. Carmel should have been enough for Elijah to know the power of God and God’s involvement in Elijah’s life, but right after a spiritual high we can typically experience a let down.
The same prophet who walked boldly into the king’s presence and declared it would not rain and then called down fire from heaven, is this prophet on the run. Fear had placed Elijah into a state of depression. He even declares he is the only follower of God… “I’m alone in this fight”. Do you ever feel that way? Are you in a wilderness experience right now? Did God send you there or did you run there yourself? Never forget He will never leave us or forsake us. That is a good reminder for 2024!