Wesley Word – June 15, 2022

Carolyn Lemaster   -   June 15, 2022

To go along with service on: Sunday, June 19th 

Experiencing Grace

Exploring Truth

1 Kings 19:1-14

What Are You Doing Here?

Our story this week takes place in the time after the kingdom was divided into the southern Kingdom of Judah, ruled by the descendants of David, and the northern Kingdom of Israel. The Kingdom of Israel in the north had a succession of very bad kings and Ahab, who is featured in our story today, was perhaps the worst.  Ahab, along with his wife Jezebel, had led the nation in turning from God to worshiping the Canaanite idol, Baal. Elijah was a faithful prophet who stood up to Ahab Jezebel, and the priests of Baal. In 1 Kings 18, we see Elijah challenging the priests of Baal and winning decisively. (You should go back and read the story.)

This victory, however, makes Jezebel even more furious with Elijah and she threatens to kill him. Elijah runs for his life into the wilderness. He is afraid, he is tired, and he thinks that he is alone. God gives Elijah rest and nourishment. In other words, God gives Elijah a snack and puts him down for a nap. Eventually, Elijah is left hiding in a cave. He needs rest, refreshment, and reassurance of God’s presence and God’s plan.

Finally, God decides that Elijah has been hiding out long enough, and he asks him, “What are you doing here Elijah?”  God then tells Elijah that his presence is going to pass by. First, there was a wind, but God was not in the wind. Then, there was an earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake. Next, there was a fire, but God was not in the fire. (This should remind us that God is not, or at least not always, behind the disasters and tragedies of our world.) Finally, there was a gentle whisper, a still small voice, and Elijah knows he is in the presence of God. God asks Elijah again, “What are you doing here?”

If we were to read on in 1 Kings 19, we would see that Elijah is not alone. God says that he had reserved for himself 7,000 who have not bowed their knees to Baal.
When we are tired, when we feel like we are alone, when we feel like we’re ready to give up, God comes to us. God gives us rest and refreshment and a renewed sense of his presence and he reminds us that he has a plan and that he is in control.

New Testament in a Year: https://wesleyonline.org/biblereading/

  • June 15    Acts 10:1-23
  • June 16    Acts 10:24-48
  • June 17    Acts 11:1-30
  • June 18    Acts 12:1-23
  • June 19    Acts 12:24-13 :15
  • June 20    Acts 13:16-41
  • June 21    Acts 13:42-14 :7
  • June 22    Acts 14:8-28

Expressing Love: Family/Mission Activity

God takes care of us in difficult situations. Everyone needs to know that Elijah had just killed all four hundred of Queen Jezebel’s Baal priests and that Jezebel was the meanest queen in the Bible; then they will understand why Elijah was frightened, running for his life, and ready to stop being God’s prophet.

God took care of Elijah—feeding him on his journey, listening to his complaints, showing him God’s power and quiet love, and granting his wish that someone else take over his job as prophet. You can trust that God also will be with you and care for you when you are scared and feel hopeless. Read Psalm 42:5-6.

On a piece of paper draw a line to make 2 sides. Discuss and write down all the ways the Lord has taken care of you on one side of the paper and on the other side write all the ways you know the Lord will take care of you now and in the future.

Announcements

  • Jackson Concert: Tom Trenney Hymnfest with Organ & Choir – Thursday, June 16 @ 7:30pm
  • Sunday, July 3 – One combined service this day at 10:30 a.m. with First Presbyterian Church across the street at 401 Iowa Avenue. Pastor Brian will deliver the morning message.
  • VBS, July 11-14, register here.
  • Music Camp, July 18-22, register here.