God’s tender care for Elijah extended to more than the body, even though ministry to his body was the first necessity. God also ministered to his spirit. The voice of the Lord, that “still small voice,” came to him to assure him of God’s continued presence with him. One of the results of an emotional breakdown in God’s servants is a feeling of isolation from God. It seems as if the spirit is unable to apprehend God’s presence, even though He is just as close as always. The cause is a defect in the spirit’s function, like a clock whose mainspring is broken.
The remedy is an extra amount of attention from God, who makes His presence more peculiarly evident to His people in such distressing times. So He came to Elijah several times and made His “word” and His “voice” known to Him (1 Kings 19:9, 12, 13, 15). God knew that Elijah needed more than water and bread; he needed the conscious presence of the One he loved most. So God came, and Elijah was comforted.
There was one other aspect of God’s care for Elijah, and that was in reference to his vocation. Was God finished with him? Did his breakdown mean the end of his ministry? Could he ever function again as a prophet? After a period of rest and refreshing, God’s word came again to His servant: “Go, return … and … anoint Hazael king over Aram; and Jehu … king over Israel” (vv. 15–16). His ministry was to continue as his strength returned. He was still of great value to the Most High. What a comfort that must have been to Elijah after his bitter bout with nerves! How assuring it is to me to see God’s minute, individual care for one of His tired prophets! I serve a Master who is infinite in heart as in mind, and I rest in the center of both.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him” (Psalm 28:7).
Daily with the King 