Thursday: Rest and More
God knows that all the running has made Elijah tired. God knows that more than being physically tired, Elijah is emotionally tired and carrying a tremendous load of guilt. Like Jesus would do for the paralytic so many years later, God wipes the slate clean and provides rest for Elijah. Finally, he can really sleep and be refreshed.
We would expect this to be the end of the story, but it isn’t. God’s rest is not a one-time event. Entering into God’s rest has to do with healing — with slowly unlearning negative thought patterns and destructive habits. God does not rush healing.
Read 1 Kings 19:5-8. Where is Elijah going now, and why?
Image © Bible Adventure Collection at Goodsalt.com
After rest, Elijah is running again. But this time God reorients his running. God understands that life in this sinful world can and will cause depression. He understands our impulse to run, but He wants to redirect our running. Instead of all the self-destructive coping mechanisms we try, He wants us to run to Him. And once we start running to Him, He wants to teach us to listen for the “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12) that will give us rest.
Elijah had no energy to lift himself up and make the journey to meet God. God provides the energy for the meeting, and God promises a better tomorrow.
As Elijah lay under his broom tree and wished to die, he believed that his best days were over.
Read 1 Kings 19.15-16 and 2 Kings 2:11. What was still in store for Elijah?
God knew that better days lay ahead for Elijah. Healing would come for the prophet as he would learn to regulate his life by God’s rhythms and accept His rest. There were still kings to be anointed and a successor to be chosen. God already knew about Elisha, who would become as close as a son to Elijah. God knew that in faith Elijah would again call down fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:10). For Elijah, there would be no desperate death under a broom tree but rather a fiery chariot ride to heavenly rest.
| What can we learn from the story of Elijah about why, no matter how bad we feel, in God’s strength we must still seek not to give up? |
(27)
I think that now is probably a good time to talk about retirement. For many of us we look forward to retirement as a time to rest and when we get there it comes as a bit of a shock. It is hard to generalise because we are all different, but having retired (rested from my career) about ten years ago, I have seen most of my colleagues retire and work out what it really means. It is not easy to adapt to the fact that you are not going to do what you have been doing for the last forty or so years.
For a start, you suddenly find thet you are spending a lot more time with your spouse than before. That is a big adjustment which is really a whole topic by itself. Then there is the problem of what to do with all the hours of free time. Far too many of arrive at retirement without any real plan about what they are going to do.
In my own case, I had some ideas but if you talk to Carmel she will tell you that I moped around for about 6 months feeling sorry for myself (Ok she actually said 12 months, but she exaggerates a bit now and then). I thought I was pretty good but if Carmel noticed it it must be true.
I found solace in doing something for myself. I am a bit of an introvert at heart so spending time alone each day taking photographs of birds was something that I actually enjoyed doing. It gave me time to think and since I was involved in Sabbath School Net at the time I used to think out ideas to write in comments while I was waiting for the birds to appear. Then I found that I could share my love for birds and photography with others and I started to contribute to the local community with information, talks and walks, raising the level of appreciation for our wildlife in the local community. This lead to my connecting with the local U3A movement to engage with older folk and encourage further education and socialisation.
As a result of this I have had to step out of my comfort zone of Adventist Employment and Academia into a secular and non-academic community. It is both rewarding and challenging. It not only keeps me busy, it gives me an interest in life.
Elijah thought he had come to the end of the road out there in the desert. He wanted to die, but God gave him a strategy and a succession plan.
I like what the lesson for today says when applied to the context of retirement:
And to conclude this little discussion on retirement, here is my latest retirement effort to share with you. If you know how to get it on a big screen, do so. it is in HD resolution and you are welcome to share it.
Winter Birds 2021
Thank you for the beautiful gift of bird Photos. A lovely way to start the day seeing the magnificent variety of God's creation.
Good day Maurice. Thanks for sharing the pictures of "Winter Birds 2021". They are really beautiful.
Glory to God.
Beautiful.
Thanks Brother Ashton!
Blessings!
Thank you so much Maurice for sharing the beautiful and unique birds of Australia. Sadly here on the AZ Sonoran Desert, we do not have near the variety you do. However we do have Humming Birds, which I recently, was surprised to
learn only exist in the Americas & their range extends from Alaska to the tip of South America. Thank you for all your posts.
So beautiful.. and so peaceful...
Thank you so much for sharing!!
Happy Sabbath!!
Today's lesson concludes with the question:
I have to admit that every day I 'give up'. In fact, that's how I start my day. I 'give up' and surrender everything - everything I am, everything I have and everything I am facing - to God. And instead I acknowledge that I am completely dependant upon God for everything (John 15:5): life, health, strength and ordering my steps and making my path straight (as per Proverbs 3:5,6; 16:9). I want to do this because I know of no-one more compassionate than God. The more the things of this world deteriorate (1 John 2:16), the more I find myself being drawn into God's presence by God's abundant compassion (as per Psalm 42:1).
Unfortunately as I then move through the day I can easily stop giving up and default back to trying to do things in my own strength. I am pretty good at doing this because I have had years of practice! Fortunately it doesn't usually take too long until I run into something that reminds me of how much I need God and then I return to 'giving up' again. This kind of 'giving up' to God is becoming a regular practice for me - and I am progressively becoming the better for it.
We could say that Elijah was in a state of depression as he fled. So after having rested and got fed, God‘s absolute cure for him was to give him a new and challenging assignment, a new motivation.Read
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Kings-19-15
As you mentioned Maurice, doing voluntary work does lift us up from dull situations whether during retirement or free time. However, it‘s important to
go along God‘s leading and His rhythm to be able to find relief and joy in whatever we‘re involved at.
So remind me, remind dear Lord.
Roll back the curtain of memory now and then
Show me where you brought me from
And where I could have been
Remember I'm human, and humans forget
So remind me, remind me dear Lord.
Our Scriptures depict the lives of God’s prophets as being full of hazards, deprivation, and little earthly comfort; they are at God’s ‘beck and call’, needing to be ready when He calls on them to be His messengers. How can the body of flesh, how can the mind stand up under this tremendous pressure? Only by receiving HIS special type of Rest and Comfort can this weary soul survive.
Elijah’s body had recovered its strength; his heart’s confidence restored, God sends him on a new mission to anoint Haz’a-el to be king over Syria. This meant going right back into the ‘lion’s den’.
These are amazing, by heaven directed circumstances, we are privileged to know about through the record of our Scriptures! What a blessing those receive that believe in these accounts depicting the powers of heaven engaged on behalf of man to fulfill the plan of Salvation for mankind!
Believed and lived by faith, the Gospel of Christ Jesus is more powerful, more impactful than anything else to convert the heart and mind of any living soul to restore true life.
Our new life then becomes the testimony of God’s power unto Truth and Life and a demonstration of the power of FAITH when believe in the Word of God.
"What can we learn from the story of Elijah about why, no matter how bad we feel, in God’s strength we must still seek not to give up?"
Elijah was so depressed, he saw no point in carrying on living. Such depression is physical and mental and not easily overcome. I know, I have experience it a few times in my life, when I could barely get out of bed. However bad those times were it was not long term clinical depression which can last a life time where a person can't operate without medication and therapy. For some people part of the problem is a chemical imbalance in the brain. There are many reasons why a person is depressed and I believe the first step to helping is empathy, showing you understand it is awful and you care for them. Hold their hand and walk with them on their journey to recovery in a way that is unique to each individual.
My M.A.P. (meditation and prayer) for my journey is to daily spend time in the Word of the LORD and then share the gems I have discovered. Here are a few:
Psalm 40: 1-2
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.”
The Good News: The vivid imagery in this verse is especially relevant for those dealing with depression. It truly can feel like you’re in a pit sometimes. Through faith in God, you can find stability once again.
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
The Good News: Dealing with depression can be scary. But this verse reminds you that with God on your side, there’s nothing to fear. You’ll find the strength you need to weather the storm by placing your trust in him.
God had work for Elijah to do and thus instructed him. With his faith restored, Elijah went to do as God had commanded him.
Genuine faith will overrule any and all feelings or sentimental tendencies. God's promises are sure, no matter the circumstances or how one might feel. Yet, God cannot draw near to those who do not seek Him with all their heart(Jas 4:7,8, Jer 29:13).
Rest and More
For me it can be 'Rest and Move'.
I read the entire chapter of 1 Kings 19:1-21.
This chapter is full of, pregnated with lots and lots of pieces about who the Lord is and who we sinner can become if we but put our trust in him.
About Jesus- He was to Elijah and he can be to us- The Almighty, Our Comforter, our Guide, our Deliverer, our Bread of Life, our Living Water, our Shield, our Protector, our Provider, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, The Holy One, The Mighty Conqueror, etc, etc.
About Elijah- things does not make sense to me about why he choose that path he did but it is showing me how humans, we Christians operate after a high spiritual experience and our total trust must be in Jesus even when we do not see the end of the situation.
1. Elijah did not want to die, if so, he would have stayed where he was in the land of his fathers'.
2. Where he was running to go, the Lord already knew and the Lord already knew he would not physically make it so he provided food and water for him to be strengthen while walking through the desert.
3. How ironic it is for the same Lord to send his angel to guide him all the way for 40days/nights to the cave just to bring him back another 40 days/nights to the same place he ran from.
As I look as these three points I am reminded-
1. Like Elijah, many people dont want to die but only want a place of escape from too much worries and what is going on in life. It is said, those who attempt suicide dont want to die but is desperately seeking help. Is the church or our homes this place, a place of escape for the weary traveler?
2. Do we who have or is given more than others share with those who dont have to physically take care of their needs. Yes I know we give tithe and offerings to the church which benefit the church plans. What about individuals as the Holy Spirit lays on our hearts. Those who falls outside of the church plans, you knew who I meant.
3. Are we running from our problems, from the reality of life, from the Lord who loves us? As said before, many refused to seek the Lord 1st with our problems and in each situation of our lives. We think that is not necessary. E.g. For our exams, we just study harder, for work we just work harder and our boss will love us and show us favor, for our home lives, just show more love in the home and all will go well. Until we realized we are doing all those but still nothing is going well and we have to start seeking the Lord 1st in every thing/situation and every time, then we will see how things will be different.
Friends, this is awesome stuff! Elijah's is one of the most epic stories in the Bible for me. In 2 Kings 19:8 the prophet is refreshed and energized after receiving depression therapy from heaven - that's the best kind by the way - and a simple meal of a freshly baked from the Angel's bakery, to go with a jar of water from the springs of living water.
Consider this! Elijah continues his journey on God's mission for another forty (40) days and nights with the energy he got from that one meal. Wow! That's all I can say. What a miracle! What a God!
I'm grateful that the Word of God has been preserved by Him with these power packed accounts for our encouragement even as we travel this often rugged path to our eternal home. We may not be caught up in a chariot of fire like Elijah, but we are assured of being "caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air".
I hope you are encouraged as I am by these lessons straight from the Word of God.
Let us be faithful to the call that God has laid on us as His children, to sound the alarm that the end of all things is at hand. It is high time!
What a privilege to have such a Father.
He gives us strength to endure whatever comes. He sees beyond our weaknesses and uses us to do His work. He loves us through our difficulties and helps us to be successful.
If we are willing to do what He asks, He makes everything work according to His perfect plan.
Our needs are cared for, our spiritual illnesses cured and in His strength we conquer any and everything an enemy throws our way.
I feel like the lesson did not do justice to this story at all. A lot is being read into it to make it fit with ideas about "rest". I suppose we could say Elijah felt guilt, though I see more utter exhaustion and feelings of failure. Also, the whole passage doesn't say anything about forgiveness - either Elijah asking for it or God granting it. If Elijah was seeking that, his words in vs. 10 and 14 seem very strange. He seems to be justifying himself more than repenting. Of course, God gives him a new perspective and this seems to be the biggest factor in him turning back to God's service.
As for the final question, I don't see this story teaching us that we must never give up, as good as that message is. The reality is that Elijah did give up. The important thing is that God never gave up on him. And that's really important for us to remember.