Daily Manna 28 October
KEY VERSE: “And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.” – (1 Kings 19:7)
TEXT: 1 Kings 19:1-10
19 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a [a]broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an [b]angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on [c]coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the [d]angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.
9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
A brother had just prepared to go for a vigil. Suddenly he felt a strong urge to visit a Christian couple. “By this time?” he asked aloud. But the impression was so strong and persistent. “But why will the Lord want me to visit this people by this time?” He asked again looking at his wristwatch. He knew they were leaders in the church, still he went. He kept on imagining what the problem might be. On getting there, he met them completely downcast and discouraged. They were complaining of everything they were going through. He then prayerfully led them through some relevant Scripture passages and promises of God. Before he left 30 minutes later, the couple had gotten themselves together and were back on their feet.
From the text, Prophet Elijah had just done a series of great and astounding miracles in Israel. He had prayed back the rain that had ceased for 3½ years. He had called down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice at Mount Carmel to prove that Jehovah is the only true God and the people had fallen down in worship. He also had authorised the execution of 450 prophets of Baal. The wicked queen, Jezebel heard about it all and threatened to kill him. He then ran for his life into the wilderness of Judah where God sent an angel to feed and strengthen him in his discouragement.
Discouragement comes to all men; to the rich and to the poor, to the high and low. Moses, Joshua, Job, David, Jeremiah, etc., were all discouraged at one time or the other. When discouragement comes, we should look to God who is able to save us. We must never give in to despondency, regret or self-pity. A songwriter wrote, “It is always darkest before the dawn, don’t be discouraged but carry on…”
As believers, let us learn to lift up our brethren when they are discouraged and not to judge or condemn them like the friends of Job.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: During discouragement, look to God alone who can lift you up.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 19-21
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Uplifting the Discouraged – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 28 October 2021
