1 Kings 19:6-10: a reflection

6He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7The LORD’s angel came again the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, God’s Mountain. 9He came to a cave there, and camped there; and behold, the LORD’s word came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

Elijah, having fled in fear and exhaustion after his great victory, collapses in the wilderness, so despairing that he asks to die. And notice how God first meets him: not with rebuke, not even with a word about his despair, but with food and rest. An angel gives him a cake baked on the coals and a jar of water, lets him sleep, and then wakes and feeds him again, saying, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you. Before any word about his despair, God tended his exhausted body, gently, with food and sleep.

Notice God's tender, practical care for the exhausted Elijah. Elijah was not only afraid but worn out, physically and emotionally spent, at the end of his strength; and God's first response was not to correct him or address his despairing words, but to feed him and let him rest. He met Elijah's exhaustion with gentle, practical care, food and sleep, tending the worn-out body before anything else. God did not despise Elijah's physical weariness or treat it as unspiritual; he tended it gently, knowing the journey was too great for him in his exhausted state.

That tender care is worth taking to heart, for we too can reach the point of exhaustion and despair, and God meets us there gently. When we are worn out, spent, at the end of our strength, even to the point of despair, we can imagine God has only rebuke for us; but God met the exhausted Elijah with food and rest, tending his weariness gently before addressing anything else. When you are exhausted and despairing, remember that God cares tenderly for your worn-out state; he does not only demand, but tends, giving rest and strength for a journey too great for you. Do not imagine God has only rebuke for you in your exhaustion; he meets the weary gently, as he fed and rested Elijah before anything else. Receive God's tender care for your exhaustion, the rest and strength he gives, as Elijah received the food and sleep God provided, knowing the journey was too great for him; for God tends the exhausted gently, and gives strength for the road.

Lord, Elijah, having fled in fear and exhaustion after his great victory, collapses in the wilderness, so despairing that he asks to die. And notice how you first meet him: not with rebuke, not even with a word about his despair, but with food and rest. An angel gives him a cake baked on the coals and a jar of water, lets him sleep, and then wakes and feeds him again, saying, arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you. Before any word about his despair, you tended his exhausted body, gently. Show me your tender, practical care for the exhausted Elijah. He was not only afraid but worn out, physically and emotionally spent; and your first response was not to correct him, but to feed him and let him rest. You met his exhaustion with gentle, practical care, tending the worn-out body before anything else. You did not despise his physical weariness or treat it as unspiritual; you tended it gently. Take that tender care to my heart, for I too can reach the point of exhaustion and despair, and you meet me there gently. When I am worn out, spent, at the end of my strength, even to the point of despair, I can imagine you have only rebuke for me; but you met the exhausted Elijah with food and rest. When I am exhausted and despairing, help me remember that you care tenderly for my worn-out state. Keep me from imagining you have only rebuke for me in my exhaustion; you meet the weary gently, Lord. Help me receive your tender care for my exhaustion, the rest and strength you give, as Elijah received the food and sleep you provided.