I Kings 19
Ahab
told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets
with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a
messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do
not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for
his life[1][1], and
came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there.
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and
came and sat down under a solitary broom tree.
He asked that he might die:[2][2] “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my
ancestors.” Then he lay down under the
broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an
angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.”[3][3] He
looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of
water. He ate and drank, and lay down
again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him,
and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.”[4][4] He got
up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and
forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.
At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.
And here follows the well-known story of the earthquake, the
fire, then the STILL
SMALL VOICE. How many times have I read that story since I have been reading the
Bible through since high school? How
many times have I read it aloud or heard it read at Sunday Eucharist or
retreats? Dozens! Yet, until now, I have missed that the STILL
SMALL VOICE story is preceded by a nourishing meal provided by the angel of
God. I am posting this entry to
memorialize that profound revelation. It
has been there all along, but this is one of those instances where I am tempted
to say, “Was that in the Bible the last time I read it?”
[1][1] A very reasonable fear.
[2][2] How many times in the past year+ have I asked this? The intensity of God’s work in my life felt
unbearable and the feeling returns again and again.
[3][3] Get up and feed on the food provided by God’s angel and don’t
try to tough it out on your own.
[4][4] A reminder to remain in good nutrition from that angel
food. One meal will not suffice. Maintain, maintain, maintain.
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