WEBVTT
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In the name of Jesus.
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Amen.
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Fresh from his victory over Baal at Mount Carmel, where Yahweh had
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exercised his power, Elijah must have been riding pretty high.
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God had acted, and the false God was shown for the empty image that he
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had been all along.
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Baal's prophets captured and killed such a mighty victory, and the
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Lord had worked through him, his prophet.
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And even then, rain fell after Baal had already failed.
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Another sign of Yahweh's power and blessing.
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So what, I wonder, was Elijah thinking?
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Perhaps he had imaginations that the victory would continue, a
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religious reformation, a revival would take place.
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The hearts of the people would turn to God once more.
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But it didn't happen.
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Because victory in a battle does not necessarily mean that the war is
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over.
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Instead, when word reached Jezebel of what had happened, she pledged
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his death.
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Clearly, the situation had not had changed as he would have hoped.
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And Elijah is crushed.
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What's more, he receives no direction from God on what to do next.
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Now, reading the text, it would appear that it did have a bigger
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impact than Elijah might have felt.
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Jezebel was able to send a message to him.
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She knew where he was, but only threatened him by the next day.
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Maybe she feared the people.
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Maybe Ahab had dissuaded her from acting hastily.
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But Elijah doesn't see the disconnect between her words and inaction.
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He only hears the threats.
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So what is the prophet to do?
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Reflect on the word of God already received.
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Pray earnestly for wisdom and direction.
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Wait patiently upon the Lord to guide? No brave Elijah who faced down
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the prophets of Baal, who mocked their false God.
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The bold man who called down divine fire upon the soaking wet
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sacrifice lost his courage.
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He could face down a god, but a living human queen was too much.
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He ran for his life, seeking refuge in the wilderness.
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And there, hidden underneath a small broom tree, he prayed for
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death.
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It is enough now
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O Lord, take my life I am no better than my father's. Fear and exhaustion
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have taken their toll. Truly, if he wanted to die why take the journey
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at all?
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He could have remained where he was and died the death of a martyr but
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here he was despondent and with that prayer he fell asleep. Can we not
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sympathize with Elijah?
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Knowing the highs and lows of the Christian life we certainly can
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understand feelings such as these when things do not go as we might
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hope. For we are all tempted, like Elijah with a theology of glory. If
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only we are faithful, things should be easy. I am following God's call
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so why is it so challenging?
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What seminarian has not been tempted with such thoughts?
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And how easily a pastor, a deaconess and yes, even a professor can find
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themselves in that self pity and despair as if it is all up to them.
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And in the midst of a holy but oh, so busy
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season.
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Confronted by the pressures and challenges of ministry and the cares
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of this life even those who proclaim the mercies of God can lose sight
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of him and see only the struggle. When afflicted with such trials like
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Elijah.
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Perhaps we, too, are inclined to think we are the only ones who feel
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this.
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And somehow, in the midst of such struggle, somehow forget that our
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Lord has prepared us. Warning us that the faithful will see trouble in
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this world and calling us to take our cross daily and follow Him.
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But instead of heeding his word, we cry out from our own broom trees
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it is enough, O Lord, take my life.
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And that is what happens when we turn our eyes from the Lord and put
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them on ourselves.
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But God does not lash out in righteous anger.
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No fire from heaven falls to consume Elijah, nor us.
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But in Fatherly mercy he provides.
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Elijah is awakened by an angel who gives him food and drink and he
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rests again.
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And once more, the angel wakes him and feeds him.
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And rested by rested and nourished by these miraculous meals.
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Elijah rose and travelled for 40 days and 40 nights to Mount Horeb
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where God would speak with him and where he would finally be ready to
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listen.
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Now, these mere wilderness meals were, in fact, miraculous.
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Even more their ability to sustain for such a lengthy journey.
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But are they not surpassed by miracles far greater?
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For another would be led into the wilderness not in fear for his own
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life, but to seek the life of his people.
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He would endure for 40 days and 40 nights receiving no food from the
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angels instead being tempted to listen to Satan and provide it
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himself.
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He would wrestle not with an evil human queen, but with Satan
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and never give in.
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For He is the bread of life.
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The mana in the wilderness, the living water that truly satisfies.
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Nor would He flee when His life was threatened but instead set His
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face like flint toward Jerusalem where he would use His authority to
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lay down His life.
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To redeem the fearful and the doubters, the confused and the violent
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and the murderers and, yes, even the idolaters any who would receive
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Him.
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For in the wilderness we see the Lord's Christ faithful in every way
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for you. The season of Lent and the ongoing Lent of life in this world
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may lead us feeling like Elijah disappointed, fearful and alone.
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But we are not alone.
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Our redeemer is always with us and God provides.
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Perhaps you've seen the meme that's circulating around on this passage
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that concludes with the words never underestimate the spiritual power
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of a nap and a snack.
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Now, of course, it trivializes this passage.
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And yet this account does in part remind us of the need to make sure
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our needs are cared for.
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That we are fed and rested.
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To work, yes, but also to rest in our Lord.
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But far more than that to rely on the God who promises to provide.
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To gratefully receive bread from his hand and to recognize the people
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who love and uphold us.
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But above all, to fix our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfector of
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our faith.
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For man does not live by bread alone.
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We have something far greater.
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The bread of life come down from heaven to give life to the world.
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Bread that sustains not merely for 40 days but to eternal life.
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So rise.
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Eat.
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For the journey is too much for you but not for your Lord.
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Rise.
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For he comes to you.
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Amen.