The Bread of Life

1 Kings 19:5-9a

“5 Then he [Elijah] lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” 8 He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. 9 At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.”

Although Elijah was scared, frustrated and discouraged to the point of asking God to kill him, God looked after Elijah and planned to send Him on another journey, to a cave on Mount Horeb, which was the holy Mount, the mount of Moses and the burning bush, the mount where water flowed from the rock, the mount of the Ten Commandments, the holy mountain of God.

God intended to speak to Elijah in a special way, in this holy place.

Elijah ate the food given to him by God and was strengthened in such a way that he could travel 40 days and 40 nights.

Although we may be afraid or discouraged even to the point of death, God still loves us and can use us for His purposes.   All we have to do is eat the food given to us by God.

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)