Read 1 Kings 19:8-9
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. There he went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Elijah entered the wilderness ready to die. He asked God for clarity, heard nothing, and called it quits. But there was more to Elijah’s story than even Elijah knew. When Elijah was most depleted, God showed up, provided for his needs and provided a sense of purpose.
Notice what Elijah does next. The Scripture tells us he traveled for 40 days and 40 nights, straight to Mt Horeb, the mount of God. Mount Horeb was where Moses encountered the burning bush and received the 10 commandments. It was a mountain full of theological significance. God didn’t “live” on the mountain, but in the same way that we have sacred places in our homes where we sit and pray and talk to God, Mt Horeb was a place of encounter.
The wilderness drove Elijah straight into the presence of God. What will you do in your wilderness season?
Prayer: Lord, the world offers us countless tools for numbing our pain and ignoring our problems. But none of them truly bring comfort. Lord, I want to run to you. Give me the courage to fall at your feet.
