Day 315 – Journey

1 Kings 19:1 Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, also how he had executed the prophets with the sword.

 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “Let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”

 3 When he saw it, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 However, he went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. He prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, JEHOVAH, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

 5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.”

 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. Then he ate and drank and lay down again.

 7 The angel of JEHOVAH came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”

 8 Then 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 Elohiym.

 9 There he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of JEHOVAH came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

 10 Then he said, “I have been zealous for JEHOVAH Elohiym of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

 11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before JEHOVAH.” Behold, JEHOVAH passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before JEHOVAH, but JEHOVAH was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but JEHOVAH was not in the earthquake; 12 after the earthquake a fire, but JEHOVAH was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

 13 Then it happened, when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. A voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

 14 He said, “I have been zealous for JEHOVAH Elohiym of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

 15 Then JEHOVAH said to him, “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also, you will anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you will anoint as prophet in your place. 17 It will be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

 19 Then he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, plowing with twelve yokes of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him.

 20 He left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.”

 He said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

 21 Then Elisha turned back from him and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and became his servant.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Patient

Protector

Provider

Have you ever been terrified by the circumstances in your life? Has someone threatened you, or told you what would happen because you did something they didn’t like?

Jezebel sent a message to Elijah that she would kill him because he killed her prophets of Baal. Elijah feared for his life and told JEHOVAH it was too much for him, he was finished and lay under a broom tree and slept. JEHOVAH sent an angel to feed him twice while he slept, then he left the broom tree in the wilderness and traveled forty days and nights without food and arrived at a mountain where JEHOVAH met with him.

JEHOVAH’S presence on the mountain caused a strong wind that broke the rocks, caused an earthquake, and fire. Lastly, Elijah heard JEHOVAH’S still small voice asking him what he was doing there. Elijah told Him he was the only one left who served Him, and Jezebel sought his life. Elohiym told him He had seven thousand people who didn’t worship or serve Baal. Then He told him to anoint Hazael as king over Syria, Jehu as king over Israel, and find Elisha as his successor.

What do you do when someone tells you, you are their successor. The person didn’t ask you if you wanted the position, or talked about what he wanted you to do, only told you the position was yours. Elisha wanted to tell his parents what Elijah proposed. Elijah’s response didn’t confirm Elisha was his servant, but Elisha knew he would travel with Elijah from then on and sacrificed a yoke of oxen and fed his servants before he left and followed Elijah.

When you committed your life to Yeshuwa, you agreed to do whatever He asked of you without question. Though most often you question what He wants you to do and the method you use to do it. You pray about what He asked you to do, sometimes hoping He will change His mind and ask someone else to do what He told you to do.

When Yeshuwa asks you to do His work, it’s not a matter of debate or prayer. It’s a matter of obedience. He already provided the means to get the work done. Everything you need for the work is at your disposal. You only need to do what He asked you.

JEHOVAH asked Elijah twice what he was doing there. Elijah’s response was one formed of terror. Jezebel wanted to kill him. He explained how the people broke His covenant, tore down His altars, and killed the prophets, and sought his life. JEHOVAH knew what Elijah faced and told him the true situation, He had seven thousand people who didn’t worship or bow down to Baal. JEHOVAH was patient with Elijah. He fed him and sent him on a forty day and nights journey to the mountain in Horeb where He met with him.

Yeshuwa wants to meet with you every day. He will do whatever it takes to get your attention. However, amid the chaos of your situation, you need to listen for His still small voice. You will hear it and know He is in control. His patience with you is a comfort to your soul. His protection from everything going on in your life brings peace that passes understanding. His provision lets you know He will be with you in the journey. He isn’t sending you out without His guidance. The only thing you need to do is obey. Everything else is up to Him.

What did Yeshuwa tell you to do that you hesitated in doing? Take hold of His promise to never leave you or forsake you in the work He gave you. Take comfort in knowing, He will lead you on the journey. Then go in His power and might without fear from outward circumstances.

Let’s pray: Father, the journey seems too hard at times. Thank you for showing me I’m not alone in the work You told me to do. Help me set aside doubt and fear and take Your hand as You lead me in the journey and task You have for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 29 November 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux