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Daily Devotion
DAILY DEVOTION
TWO MOUNTAINS AND A VALLEY
by Dan Kohn
It was more than a sacrifice. What Elijah did on Mount Carmel was a calling--a calling of
God's people back to faithfulness to Him...back to a life of holiness to their God.
Yes, the people had not been invited to the mountain top to simply see a "fire" miracle of God.
No, they had been called to be a part of a grander miracle--a renewed relationship with God,
tied to His grace and mercy. This was the reason Elijah had been called as a prophet!
But there was a fragileness within this victorious prophet. The remarkable victory over the
450 prophets of Baal was noteworthy; but not sufficient to fully overcome the loneliness within
this chosen one of God.
This becomes evident in the very next chapter. Now Elijah faced a single foe--evil Queen
Jezebel. Her message was clear regarding her planned mission against this prophet--
"'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 [the killed prophets of Baal].'"
(1 Kings 19:2)
The follow-up verses depict the "valley" in which we now find this prophet of God--
"Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. He came to Beersheba in Judah, he left
his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He
came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. 'I have
had enough, Lord...'Take my life...."' (vss.3-4a)
Fear and loneliness were heavy burdens on this prophet's heart, mind and soul. His focus
was not on victory...but on the end of his mission. This was his choice...not God's.
Yes, God had work yet to be accomplished. The man He had called to ministry was in a
"valley" of despair...but there was another mountain to climb!
PERSONAL REFLECTION:
God is with you--both on your "mountain tops" and in your "valleys"!
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