Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Kings 18:46 (New Living Translation)

46 Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.

Simple statement. The writer wants us to know that the prophet Elijah was able to reach Jezreel before Ahab did. Okay, but notice how. Jezreel was riding in a horse-drawn chariot. This wasn’t a horse-drawn Conestoga wagon that lumbered along at a walking pace. This was a fast vehicle that moved at a galloping-horse pace.

Old Elijah sprinted a distance faster than horses could gallop. Nonsense. Cannot happen. Yet, it did. How? God gave Elijah “special strength.” Elijah set a world record of some sort. This was a miracle.

Okay, a miracle performed 3,000 years ago one time with one prophet. That’s the kind of thing we expect with prophets in 3,000-year-old stories. Nothing like that happens today. Really? How do I know that?

Sometimes we read of adrenaline hitting someone in a moment of crisis as they lift a car off a child or burst through a wall into a burning building to save others. Adrenaline. That’s it. That’s what hit old Elijah. Adrenaline explains all these things. Isn’t it great that we understand these things? Why, we can eliminate the possibility of God working with us today like with Elijah. Right?

Wrong. At least I believe it is wrong. I believe that God still puts special strength in some people at some times in some situations. Sometimes it is a flash of brilliance in the mind. Sometimes it is inexplicable physical strength. Sometimes it is a flood of empathy in a heart that allows someone to offer a tender touch and a hug.

Oh, a hug to someone who doesn’t deserve but needs one? Yes, special strength from God.