(1 Kings 19: 4-8; Psalm 34; Ephesians 4: 30 – 5: 2; John 6: 41-51)
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Introduction: Sometimes our life feels out of control. There are times when it seems the world is out of control. And that maybe even God is not in control anymore. Maybe we don’t say it, but often that’s how we feel. When we turn on our TV’s and we see immoral lifestyles being not only accepted but celebrated we feel God is no longer in control. When we see evil people do evil things and get away with it we feel God is no longer in control. When we see injustice and dishonesty getting the upper hand, we feel God is no longer in control. When we see these things, we wonder, why does God remain silent? Or in our own personal lives when we see a loved one suffer, we wonder why? Or when we are criticized and condemned for doing what is right. Or when our children reject and rebel from everything, we taught them growing up. Whenever things like this happen, we wonder, why does God remain silent? Is he in control anymore?
Well, Elijah was asking the same questions. We have to remember something as we look at the life of Elijah. We have to remember that though he is a great prophet, he is still a human prophet, with human weaknesses, and human frailties, like all of us. Have you ever felt that way? I have had enough, take my life. Life is not worth living anymore. Maybe some of us have been in that dark place, that dark hole, and there is no light, and we feel as if the only solution, the only answer is to end life. And even if you have never reached that point in your life, you have still felt that desire to just quit. To quit your job, to quit your marriage, to quit as a parent, to quit church, to just quit trying. To just give up, throw in the towel. And you say, “That’s it, I have had enough!”
Story of Elijah: That’s where Elijah was. He had had enough. And so, God hears his cry. He hears his tears, and he reaches down from the heavens and he touches Elijah and gives him food, and sends him even further south into the desert. For 40 days and 40 nights, Elijah retreats into the wilderness. Sort of reminds us of Jesus who spent 40 days and nights in the desert, perhaps it was the same desert. And so Elijah retreats into that desert, gets away from it all. But, why does Elijah, a man who has demonstrated no fear up to this point, a man who has faced his enemies, has seen the powerful acts of God time after time… why does he allow the threats of Jezebel to cause him to plunge into such distress and depression?
Well, the heart of his frustration is the apparent silence of God. Elijah was questioning whether or not God was truly in control. Ahab has been on his throne for years and years, Jezebel has had her evil ways, the people of Israel continue to reject the Lord, and yet God allows these terrible things to continue. If God is in control, then why would he allow such evil things to happen? Elijah felt like God was silent. God sends a powerful wind, then an earthquake, then a fire. But God was not in any of those, and then a gentle whisper and Elijah could sense God’s presence in that gentle whisper. You see, just when we think God is silent, just when we think he is out of control. Just when we begin to doubt, and lose hope, and wonder if it would be better to just quit. God speaks in ways we least expect. Elijah would expect God to speak in an earthquake like he did for Moses and the Israelites, Elijah would expect God to speak in a fire like he did on top of Mt Carmel and in the Burning Bush. But Elijah didn’t expect God to speak with a gentle whisper.
God’s prescription for Elijah’s discouragement –God gave him rest. The Lord put him into a deep sleep. Then God woke him and gave him something to eat. God took care of his physical needs. Then he slept some more and arose again to eat. Then the Lord led him to a place where he could be alone with God. The Lord got him to talk and pour out his heart. He did not judge him or criticize him — he just listened. Then God gave him a job to do. There was a king to anoint who would wipe out every trace of Ahab and Jezebel, new hope for Israel. And finally, God gave Elijah a friend and companion in Elisha, someone to share the load.
Prescription #1: Rest
Prescription #2: Rediscover God
Prescription #3: Reassignment
Prescription #4: Relationship
The most vulnerable point in our life is right after we’ve experienced a mighty victory. When we come off the mountain, we often go right into the valley.