Running Beyond the Brick Wall

Passage: 1 Kings 19:1-18

Focus: “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus.” (v. 15)

How quickly things can change. One moment Elijah is on top of the world. He had just defeated the false prophets of the false god Baal and was leading God’s people in a mighty revival of worship. The next day we find him running for his life. What a difference a day makes! The man who stood boldly against 450 false prophets was now running in fear from one wicked queen. When he finally gets to what he feels is a safe distance, he cries out to God, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts . . . and I alone am left.” (v. 10). What happened?

Like Elijah, we all run into a brick wall at times. There are limits to where our faith and trust will take us. God knows this. Notice that God never rebukes the prophet. He questions him. He challenges him. He provides strength, encouragement, and direction. Most important, God listened to Elijah. The result was the accomplishment of God’s will and, in the process, a great stretching of Elijah’s faith.

Satan loves to load us down with guilt when we reach the point where our faith ends. He wants to convince us we are useless to God. The solution? Go to God for some “stretching” exercises. Like the athlete who prepares his muscles for the competition by stretching them, God will stretch your faith to discover and accomplish His will.

Sometimes these periods of “stretching” are painful. Athletes have a saying, “no pain, no gain.” Baptist missionary Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, was talking to a young missionary who was about to start work in China. “Look at this,” Taylor said. He pounded his fist on the table. The cups jumped and the tea spilled out. Taylor continued, “When you begin your work you will be buffeted in many ways. The trials will be like blows. Remember, these blows will bring out only what is in you.”

Let God build in you His character, so that when you go through times of trial and difficulty, His character will spill out.

“Go to God for some “stretching” exercises. Like the athlete who prepares his muscles for the competition by stretching them, God will stretch your faith to discover and accomplish His will.”