A Tender Touch

Queen Jezebel put a death order out on Elijah after he shellacked her prophets of Baal, so he ran for the woods. Exhausted and despondent, Elijah lay down to die.

Then a remarkable experience. An angel visited Elijah with freshly baked bread and sparkling water. Elijah ate and fell asleep. The angel woke him and said, Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.

This angel met Elijah in his distress, feeding and nourishing him for the long journey to come. Later the Lord himself spoke to Elijah (in a whisper), reminding him that even though Elijah felt abandoned, he was not alone. I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.

The Lord cared for Elijah, strengthening him physically and encouraging him emotionally. Through his interaction with an angel and in the whisper, we see a tender, touching series of events. From start to finish, in perilous run-ins with treacherous leaders, the Lord stood with Elijah. To further bolster his faith, God reassured Elijah that many others supported his mission.

Stay faithful. Stay faithful in the midst of crushing events. Stay faithful when pursued by evil. Stay faithful when it appears no one seems to care.

The Lord walks with all who walk with him. Many, many others, most of whom we do not know, faithfully follow Jesus alongside us. Pray the Lord might reveal a few of these saints to you.

Don’t give up. You and I are not alone. Like Elijah, keep the faith.

1 Kings 19 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Edwin Andrade