PrintElijah Re-visited (1)
As indicated in the last entry I made in my log, I find myself drawn back to Elijah as I try to learn more about the positive value of the desert experience. There is something very authentic about the account of this man's spiritual journey that appeals to me.
"Elijah was a man just like us" (James 5/17). It's re-assuring to know that those biblical 'giants of faith' were not exempt from experiencing the low times through which the rest of us mere mortals pass. In 1 Kings 18 I read an amazing story about a man of conviction, authority, power, obedience and seemingly indestructible faith. Talk about your mountain-top experience - literally!!
But then I turn the page to the next chapter and…..can this possibly be the same man?! Here I am reading about a man who is in the grip of an emotional meltdown. A man who stood up to 450 false prophets but is then intimidated by the threats of a just one person. Such is the power of this threat, Elijah retreats into the desert in what appears to be a state of brokenness - physically, emotionally and spiritually.
I'm neither a psychologist or the son of a psychologist but it seems to me that what we have here is a classic case of burnout. Elijah retreated into the desert. He ran for his life which I take to mean that he was in fear of his life. But at the same time he wanted to die. Jezebel would gladly have accommodated that wish! In fact, she sent a messenger to Elijah assuring him that she wanted him dead, too! There seem to be a number of factors at work in Elijah as he enters into his desert experience. I want to record these in my next log entry because I think they are typical of many who are ushered into the solitude of the desert.
Meantime it is worth noting that when Jesus went through the agony of Gethsemane, there were aspects that His disciples could not share with Him. Those aspects were His and His alone to bear. But, on the other hand, there were aspects that they could share with Him. He needed to have them there so He could share with them how He was feeling. He asked them to "watch and pray". They could certainly do that. So Jesus was alone in the main sense of the experience. Yet He looked to others to support Him.
I think it is the same with me in the desert. In some respects, I must travel alone. Yet, in other ways, I also need the prayer and support of my friends.
