Familiar are the sermons about Elijah which marvel that after such a power encounter atop Mt Carmel, Elijah could fear for his life from a vicious, God-hating queen. How could a man used so mightily by God then suspect God of letting him down?
What is this thing we call faith? Here the holy tension comes into play. Faith is a gift from God. No one would argue that Elijah was a man of weak faith, yet he wavered in his certainty. He knew the prophets of God were in the crosshairs and perhaps saw his work as over. The Mt Carmel victory would be a grand culmination to a miraculous career.
The very man who stood up to the king, demanded the attendance of 950 false prophets, and then supervised their massacre could by his very awareness of God's character, know that with the unknowable God his life was not guaranteed. He, Elijah, was not the author and he wasn't planning the timeline.
Lord, help me keep in mind that my lifeline is written by Your Hand and help me be good with that.
The Prophet and the Queen.
1 Ki 19:3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.
Elijah knew his end was near, commanded by the queen.
Jezebel was adamant he not escape the scene.
With heart afraid and body weak, he sought elusive peace.
But nature-driven and instinct-led, he sensed his faith release
His grip on hope; thus he ran to far and lonely places—
Through two kingdoms to Beersheba for safety from their faces.
One hundred fifty miles of running reinforced his strife—
Out in the desert, exhausted and low, he wearied of his life.
Out in the desert, exhausted and low, he wearied of his life.
1 comment:
So cleverly done, Karen! This is my favorite so far. . .
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