Westminster Towers Ecumenical Service
1 Kings 19: 3-16
Dc. Larry Brockman
I’m pretty sure that there isn’t a single one of you that hasn’t had to deal with adversity during your long lives: the loss of a loved one; job loss; sickness or infirmity; natural disasters; the effects of war; or psychological disasters. Indeed “Into every life, a little rain must fall”.
But how about some drastic adversity that happens even when you feel you are right with God, something that happens in your life that leaves you spellbound; where your emotions include fear, a feeling of loss of control, panic, and more; and despite your abiding faith? A situation like that calls for strong faith; yet it is your faith is that is being tested, isn’t it?
Now ultimately, each of us needs to recognize that God is in control. When we think we are in control and things are going well, then all is fine. But when things don’t go well even when we think we are right with God, then we lose heart and begin to doubt. Something drastic happens, and we panic when we experience the feeling of loss of control. Just what can we do in such cases?
I have some close friends who are in just such a situation now- a lovely couple who have been married nearly 55 years. The lady has terminal cancer that has spread rapidly. Her caretaker husband recently had a heart attack that has been complicated by other issues. He is in near panic because he cannot care for his wife any more in the condition he is in. He feels he has been doing everything right. He asks, “Why has God abandoned me.” He feels things are out of control.
Well, such is the situation with Elijah in our reading. Elijah, as he says in the reading, believes he has been most zealous for the Lord; but despite his best efforts, he is in trouble and is in a panic. To understand why, let me present some background.
The King of Israel, Ahab, has married a pagan woman named Jezebel. She is an evil woman, a “femme fatale” if there ever was one. She has corrupted her husband and the Israelites with her pagan religion, worshiping the god Baal. She has killed virtually all of the Israelite Prophets except Elijah. And her husband Ahab has deferred to her in everything. At first, there is prosperity. But then Israel is hit by a severe draught. And all the Prophets of Jezebel’s false god Baal have been assembled to pray for rain. Elijah challenges them, proposing a burnt offering of a fine ram. But the fire must be set by calling on their God to start it. The prophets of Baal accept the challenge, but after many hours of invocation, they fail. Finally, Elijah sets his ram on the altar near the end of the day. He then calls on his servants to douse the altar and kindling three times with water. Even so, when Elijah calls for fire from the Lord, Elijah’s prayers are answered and the altar is consumed by fire.
This so impresses the people, that they follow Elijah’s lead to chase away the prophets of Baal, who are all slain by the sword, all 450 of them! Then Elijah waits for the fulfillment of the successful offering to the Lord. And indeed, despite all indications to the contrary, including a cloudless blue sky; in a sudden change, a deluge of rain descends on Israel.
Nevertheless, when Jezebel hears of what Elijah has done, she vows to have Elijah killed. Knowing that Jezebel is the real power, Elijah flees in panic- and today’s reading tells us what happens next.
Notice the emotions which Elijah is experiencing. First, he is afraid. Why? Because he has done right by the Lord, and he has shown the false god Baal as just that, a false god. Not only that, he brought rain through the Lord to end the draught. And yet, things are still out of control and he is still under attack. He feels the Lord has abandoned him.
Second, he is at wits end. He doesn’t know what to do next. In his mind, he was worked the ultimate miracles in the face of the full force of the enemy. By invoking the Lord’s name, he has successfully offered the sacrifice to the Lord where the prophets of Baal have failed. And what is more, these false prophets have been slain and the draught ended. What more can he do? How much more adversity can he face. And so, he runs away, runs away without a plan. He says, “I’ve had enough, I can stand no more; take me, my life is at an end.” And after a long journey into the desert, he falls asleep under a broom tree.
But an angel awakens him and urges him to eat and drink. A cake and water are provided for him. Now this cake symbolizes the “bread of life”- like the manna in the desert before; and like the Eucharist, the Lord Jesus gave us at the Last Supper. And as such, it represents the nourishment Elijah really needs; the presence of God within him. And so, refreshed from this nourishment, Elijah travels for 40 days and is led by the Lord to the mountain of Horeb.
40 days is a symbol as well. Just like the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 days; and just like Jesus went into the desert for 40 days to reflect; so Elijah wanders for 40 days on a journey that the Bible experts tell us would only have taken 5 days, until he comes to the mountain of Horeb, which is another name for Sanai. Elijah is being prepared for an encounter with the Lord.
Now in earlier scripture, Moses ascends Sanai only to encounter the glory of almighty God. That glory was manifest in a cloud and the wind, and in the thunder and lightning, and in fire. But things are different for Elijah. For although God is present for him during all those things; the Lord’s voice was not present in any of those things. Rather, after all the loud and boisterous commotion, the Lord’s voice is heard in a tiny whispering sound. That’s what gains Elijah’s attention.
After recognizing the presence of the Lord, Elijah first pours out his anger and frustration to the Lord. And then listens, really listens, to the Lord’s response. And what is the Lord’s response. First, “Go back.” Wow! Such a lot of meaning in so few words. It’s translates to- “Take courage, go back and face this thing head on; I will be with you; how can you doubt me, my grace is enough; look at what I have done for you so far”. And then he gives his specific direction- anoint this person as the new king; and that one as your successor. What is not obvious is that it took years, yes even years after Elijah passed away, Before the things the Lord challenged Elijah to do on his return were fulfilled.
So, there’s a strong message in that prophecy. Elijah was God’s servant; he had only to do God’s will; but he could not even expect to see it all happen on his watch. He just needed to move forward on trust; and God would provide what he needed when he needed it.
And so, when we are faced with this kind of adversity, what lessons can we learn from Elijah? First, we cannot run from the situation. It didn’t work for Elijah, and it won’t work for us. Second, if you truly believe that you are faithful to God, then trust that he will be there for you. You may not believe that angels are there for you, but think again, because most of us are helped by angels when we are in a panic- your closest friend that consoles you and helps you; the perfect stranger who just happens to show up at the right time; a minister or priest; the police; even a secular counselor. You may never even see them again, but they were your special angel at the time.
Third, you need “the bread of life”. It is there for you- Jesus Christ is always there for you. For those who believe, it is available in the Eucharist. But Jesus is just a prayer away in any event. You may need to go out into the desert- to get alone; to make free time; but He is there for you.
Fourth, it may take some time to dispel the panic and get things back under control. It takes the biblical “40 days”; which is whatever is right for you under the circumstances. That could be 10 minutes, 10 hours, 10 days, 40 days.
Next, you have got to listen for the voice of the Lord. Normally, that voice will be a tiny whispering sound- not the strong voices of our culture and society. That’s why solitude and quiet can become important. Don’t hesitate to pour out your dilemma on the Lord first. Elijah certainly did that. But then do listen, listen to the quiet urgings in your heart.
Chances are, the message will be similar to the one the Lord gave Elijah. “Get out there and turn it over to me. I will be with you; do your best.” And lastly, do not be surprised if it all doesn’t happen the way you envision or want it to happen. After all “God’s ways are not your ways”. What is important is that your soul be at peace; that you feel the presence of God by your side at all times; and that you are trusting in God’s providence.
God loves us; all of us. His love is everlasting. He will not abandon us. He sends his angels, nourishes us, and looks after us in adversity. We have only to accept His love and trust.by listening to the tiny whispering sound.
