1 Kings 19:1-8

            {Prayer}

            For the last three weeks, the dominant theme in the sports world is not how the Chicago Cubs have beaten the St. Louis Cardinals. As great as that has been, the main focus has been overseas on the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

            The athletes who participate in the Olympic Games are incredible. They’ve trained relentlessly. Their body is honed to perfection. They have competed in countless competitions, races, and events.

            One of the “most exhausting” sports commonly recognized is the marathon. To run a marathon requires sustained endurance and mental fortitude. 26.2 miles is a long ways to run. That would be like running from downtown Salem along old Highway 50 into the heart of Flora.

            Now imagine an Olympic marathon runner nearing the finish line and their body betrays them. Their muscles scream in protest, their legs feel like lead, and their vision blurs. Exhaustion, both physical and mental exhaustion, threatens to consume them.

            It’s in that moment that the runner has a decision to make. Either give up or press on? The finish line is tantalizingly close, yet their body is telling them that it’s done. It’s a battle of will power, a test of endurance.

            Elijah, the great prophet of God we heard about in Old Testament lesson, he is much like this runner. Elijah finds himself at a crossroad with a decision to make.

            You see, Elijah is coming off of this monumental victory over the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. On the top of Mt. Carmel, Elijah proved through a little competition of “Whose God is Real?” that Baal was not real, that Baal was not a god and that “The Lord, he is God” (1 Kings 18:39). Then at the end of 1 Kings 18 we’re told that Elijah had all 450 prophets of Baal slaughtered.

            News of this gets back to the queen, to sweet ole Jezebel. Needless to say she don’t much appreciate what she heard. So she sends a messenger to Elijah to tell him, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them” (1 Kings 19:2). In other words, Jezebel wants Elijah dead.

            Now you would think that Elijah would just brush these words off after what he did on Mount Carmel. He just proved that his God is the One true God, that his God is the only and all-powerful God. But no, Elijah is struck with fear. Elijah knows how Jezebel isn’t tolerant of those who oppose her. So instead of sticking around and taking his chances to see what could happen, he takes off. He gets out of there as quickly as possible.

            But where does he go? Well, Elijah heads south into the Southern Kingdom of Judah to avoid the power of Jezebel. He drops his servants off at Beersheba where there is food and water, and then he goes another day’s journey into the wilderness. It’s there where Elijah finds a broom tree … sits down under it … and prays. Elijah’s prayer goes like this, “I have had enough, LORD. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors” (1 Kings 19:4). Elijah has no hope. Elijah just wants to give up. He is mentally, physically, and even spiritually exhausted. So after he prays, Elijah lays down under the broom tree and fell asleep.

            Marathon runners, they need sustenance in order to finish the race. This build-up of sustenance starts when training begins, about 16 weeks before the event. The day before though is a little bit different. The day before a race, runners will load up on carbs to give them energy during the race. Then as they run, runners will burn that energy and need to replace it on the go. So during the race, runners will also take in more carbs and more electrolytes to help them refuel.

            Spiritual journeys … one’s own faith walk … they are not sprints, they’re more like a marathon. When looking at Elijah’s actions after having this great victory and being praised as a hero to running away as soon as he is threatened, to his going out in the wilderness alone, and praying for God to end his life … it’s like Elijah sees his spiritual life as a spiritual sprint. The thing is though, God has a lot more in store for Elijah. Elijah is need of some divine intervention in order to endure his trials.

            So God provided for Elijah in a very real and tangible way. God sent an angel who brought Elijah some bread and water. Elijah ate and drank and laid down again. The angel comes back a second time, woke Elijah up and told him, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So Elijah got up. He ate and drank. Strengthened by the food he received, Elijah travels to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. Elijah travels to the very same mountain where Moses spoke with God and received the 10 Commandments. There at the mountain, in the verses after our reading, Elijah receives some spiritual nourishment as he has a conversation with God.

             In our own lives … we encounter challenges that test our strength, our resilience, our faith and trust in God. Like Elijah, at times we very much so feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and totally alone under our own broom tree. When we are in these moments … are we looking at our faith journey as a sprint or as a marathon? It’s really easy to see what is only directly ahead of us and not see the big picture, not the whole race that lies before us. One thing that was certain for Elijah is also certain for you and me … God promises to sustain us.

            God sustains us physically. Just as God provided Elijah with food and water in the midst of the dry and barren wilderness … God provides for all of our physical needs. In Luther’s meaning to the first article of the Apostles’ Creed that we just confessed, Luther says that God has given me “my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have.” He then ends this section saying that God “richly and daily provides me all that I need to support this body and life.” God gives us the strength to endure, the resources to survive and the health to thrive.

            God sustains us emotionally. When Elijah hears that sweet ole Queen Jezebel wants him dead, Elijah runs away in fear. He hides under the broom tree and asks for God to take his life. Instead, God brings Elijah to Himself at Mount Horeb. Following our reading, Elijah is having a pity party saying that he is the only prophet left and now they are trying to kill him too. God has to reassure Elijah and lay out His plan of salvation to help build Elijah back up.

            God does the same thing for you and me. In times of sorrow, God is there as our comforter. Just think about Psalm 23. “Even though I walk through the valley of deep darkness, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (23:4). God is our strength in the midst of our weakness. Psalm 46 says, “God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (46:1). In the midst of despair, God is our hope. Psalm 62 says, “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God” (62:5-7).

            God also sustains us spiritually. Through His Word, God sustains us. Through His Word and the Holy Spirit, God gives us wisdom, guidance, and direction. When Elijah wanted to die and was complaining to God saying, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too” (1 Kings 19:10) … God reassured Elijah that he was not alone. God then laid out His plan of salvation.

            You know … God does the very same thing for us through Jesus. God reminds us constantly throughout the Scriptures that we are not alone. Through the living Word, through Jesus, through our connection to Him through baptism, the Holy Spirit lives and dwells within us. In the midst of those times of struggle, hardship and pain, God gives to us His wisdom, His guidance and direction. Through the Holy Spirit, God empowers us to overcome challenges and fulfill His purpose for our lives.

            Like a marathon runner who finds renewed strength in the final push of the race … we too can find renewed strength in God when we feel like giving up. God is our ultimate source of sustenance physically, emotionally, and spiritually. God is our constant companion on our faith journey.

            In the face of life’s challenges, let us remember Elijah’s story. Let us trust in God’s provision, knowing that He will sustain us to the end. Just as God cared for Elijah in the wilderness … so God cares for us today. With Him, with His strength … we can endure any storm, run any race, and finish strong. At the end, we can say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). Amen.

            The peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, now and forever. Amen.