For the Frustrated

I know you are supposed to answer ‘Jesus’ when asked who your favorite Bible personality is, but whenever I come to a place of decisive frustration, my thoughts typically turn to the ancient prophet Elijah.

Elijah was a two fisted, rough around the edges, back alley preacher who had no trepidation in walking directly into the presence of carnal, earthly royalty and boldly proclaiming whatever message God wanted him to relay.  He walked with a holy swagger when faced with daunting, overwhelming odds because he knew the One he served would back up the word he declared.

Even to the point of sending an atomic explosion of fire just for the asking.

God is well aware that I cannot be trusted with the whole ‘calling down fire from heaven’ thing just yet. I can barely handle the car rider line taking my children to school. That is trouble just waiting to happen.

Each of us eventually comes to a place where we feel stuck. God has spoken to us about a change of direction or taking on a new challenge. We seize with exhilaration the vision He gives us and are ready to start with no hesitation.

Elijah was like that. He bravely strode directly into the presence of two of the most evil rulers in his nation’s history and declared that God was sending a drought on the land that would not end except at his word.

While he was printing business cards, God told Elijah to do something completely out of the ordinary.

And then this happened: Elijah the Tishbite, from among the settlers of Gilead, confronted Ahab: “As surely as God lives, the God of Israel before whom I stand in obedient service, the next years are going to see a total drought—not a drop of dew or rain unless I say otherwise.”

 God then told Elijah, “Get out of here, and fast. Head east and hide out at the Kerith Ravine on the other side of the Jordan River. You can drink fresh water from the brook; I’ve ordered the ravens to feed you.”

Elijah obeyed God’s orders. He went and camped in the Kerith canyon on the other side of the Jordan. And sure enough, ravens brought him his meals, both breakfast and supper, and he drank from the brook.

 Eventually the brook dried up because of the drought. Then God spoke to him: “Get up and go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I’ve instructed a woman who lives there, a widow, to feed you.”

1 Kings 17: 1-9, the Message

Having been encouraged by that account multiple times, I have always considered how God provided for Elijah’s basic daily necessities. A fresh brook to drink from; carry out without ever having to pick up the phone.  Glorious solitude with intense times of worship, prayer, and reflection.

Sounds great, doesn’t it?  I always read that passage believing the prophet waited with a worried expression as each day the brook began to dry up. Now, I am not so sure.

Do you believe that, after starting with such great fanfare and bravado, that it drove Elijah crazy to have to sit at that brook day after day waiting on God to tell him the next step? I am certain there were times of powerful intimacy and devotion for Elijah, but if we were to share similar traits of any kind there were perhaps moments where this devout, spiritual giant looked at the cracking creek bed and yelled ‘ dry up already!’

Elijah had no idea that centuries later he would be remembered as one of the greatest examples of faith and power in the entire canon of Scripture. He was not even aware that not long after this he would face off with close to a thousand false prophets in what amounted to the greatest heavyweight fight of all time (read 1 Kings 18).

All Elijah knew was that he felt called to accomplish great things for the God he desperately loved and longed to serve, and all he could do was wait for ravens and drink what was left of a muddy riverbed.

Frustration does not begin to describe it.

Yet God was very much at work while the prophet waited. As Elijah vacillated between worship and worry, the One he passionately wanted to serve was molding, shaping, and creating a powerful identity inside of him.

Elijah prayed for power, God was producing patience. He knew power minus patience could equal catastrophe. The prophet sought confrontation on his King’s behalf, his King desired character. In the end it was less about waiting on the water to recede and more about God waiting on Elijah to become a man who could be trusted with the incredibly powerful tasks he would be called upon to one day perform.

Each day after leaving the school parking lot I attempt to walk a nature trail at a nearby park to clear my mind before the day begins. Crossing one of the small bridges, I noticed a small creek that typically runs underneath it was nearly dried up. In that moment, God reminded me of my Old Testament hero.

I am learning to focus less on my eventual destination and more on becoming the person God will need once I get there. However long that takes.