Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Kings 19:3-9 (New International Version)

³ Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” ⁵ Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ⁶ He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

⁷ The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” ⁸ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. ⁹ There he went into a cave and spent the night.

God uses Elijah to provide an example to us for the ages.

Elijah is beat – literally dead tired. He sat under a tree, prayed for relief through death, and fell asleep. Notice the train of events:

• an angel wakes Elijah
• Elijah eats
• Elijah sleeps a second time
• an angel wakes Elijah a second time
• Elijah eats a second time
• Elijah goes to work

This is pretty simple: rest, eat, work. Do these things in this order.

There are times when we forget one or more of these elements or do them out of order.

God, thank you for the timeless example of Elijah. Help me to follow it.