#22 – Elijah’s Request

Published by Ben Stahl on April 21, 2020April 21, 2020

April 21, 2020

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. 

I Kings 19:4-8 NKJV

“They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.” Psalm 106:19

Where did the children of Israel make and worship the golden calf? The golden calf was made at the base of Mount Sinai, where Israel was encamped from Exodus 19 until Numbers 10:12.* Why does the psalmist refer to Horeb instead of Mt. Sinai? Because Horeb and Mt Sinai are two names in Scripture for the same place.

Elijah continued south from Beersheba out of the promised land and back into the same wilderness where the Israelites had wandered for 40 years because of their sin against the Lord. Like Hagar and Jonah, Elijah came to rest under a tree and prayed for death (19:4).

Does it sometimes seem to you that you have done the work the Lord has called you to and now it is time to depart from this world to the glory that awaits? Perhaps you think you are at the end of your strength. Elijah the prophet certainly felt that way as he went to sleep under the Juniper (broom) tree to await God’s answer.

But like Moses at 80 years old and Zechariah well into old age, the Lord was not finished with His servant Elijah. So, the Lord’s angel twice awoke Elijah and fed him food and water. From this heavenly food, Elijah was strengthened to travel 40 days and 40 nights, even all the way to the southern end of the wilderness and unto the mountain of God, Horeb, Mt. Sinai itself.

No doubt this food reminded Elijah of the angel’s bread, the manna that God gave His people in the wilderness. The water reminds us of the rock in the wilderness from where the water came out… and the rock was Christ. The number of days in the journey reminds us of the number of years of Israel’s wandering and of Christ’s fasting and temptation in the wilderness. The reason for Elijah’s time in the wilderness reminds us of the reasons for Israel’s wandering, even the sin and idolatry of Israel. The destination of Elijah’s wilderness journey reminds us of the presence of God, the voice of God, the law of God, that was given and revealed on that mountain (more to come on this).

God did not leave His people in the wilderness forever. He had work for them to do in Canaan. He preserved the youths for 40 years to show His glory to all the nations when they went into Canaan. So the Lord had work for Elijah to do, and after refreshing His servant at His mountain, He prepared him for that great work.

Where do you go when in need of refreshment? Where do you go when the work seems hard and you have done much already? Go to the Lord, the rock of your salvation, your help, and your God. He alone sustained Israel, He alone sustained Elijah, He alone will sustain you.

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* So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses’ anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. (Exodus 32:19).

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