1 Kings 19:7-8 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
Athletes who are found using anabolic steroids are disqualified from any professional race as steroids give the users unfair advantage over the rest of the athletes in the field. Anabolic steroids are ‘performance enhancing drugs’ used to increase sporting performance.
The food and water that the angel served to Elijah was like anabolic steroids that gave him the strength to walk for 40 days and 40 nights nonstop to reach Mount Horeb. Allegorically the spiritual food from heaven, the Word of God, is food to our soul and serves as anabolic steroids that give us supernatural strength to do the impossible, get through the impassable and overcome the impenetrable. God’s Word becomes our daily energy food to surmount crucible circumstances. We are not called to just get through a difficulty but to thrive through it with supernatural tenacity, resilience and strength. God’s promises and prophecies give us the spiritual boost to remain peaceful, praise and prosper even through an unimaginable pain.
Elijah was not just physically tired and spiritually drained; he was terribly disappointed with God. He was expecting the grand finale on Mount Carmel to continue for the rest of his life. His notion was that the wicked King Ahab and his promiscuous queen Jezebel would repent after the revival meeting. Ahab witnessed with his own eyes the Lord’s fire from heaven consuming the sacrifice, however, he hardened his heart and even worse Jezebel sent Elijah a death notice. “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them” (vs 2). Elijah misconstrued God’s next move, hence he sunk into depression.
Misalignment with God’s plan will drown us in disappointment but running into His arms and feeding on fresh manna will refresh us.
The Balance of information and experience:
1. Obligatory: The Lord is not indebted to anyone. Just because Elijah obeyed God, the Lord was not obliged to fulfill all his desires. Elijah’s unmet expectation to see the repentance of the wicked king and queen discouraged him. Elijah wanted to give up his calling and his life, but the Lord strengthened him with bread and water to continue his race as ‘the fire breathing prophet’.
2. Derogatory: Don’t listen to the derogatory voices of the demonic world. They will demean and whisper derogatory criticism about God, your calling and your future. Shoot them down with praise.
3. Recovery: Go back to God’s Word to recover from the wounds of disappointment. God is good beyond our human understanding. He is not mistaken and His plans never go wrong. Trust Him.
The word of God is our spiritual food and spiritual steroids for supernatural strength.
1 Kings 19:15a The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came”.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I trust you that your ways are perfect. Help me to see your plan even through my disappointment. Amen.
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