2 January 2010
Psalm 34; 1 Kings 19:1-8; Eph. 4:1-16; John 6:1-14

Why is Elijah afraid of Jezebel and her gods? He had just taken on the prophets of Baal and defied their gods and defeated them in the contest on the mountain. He has seen extraordinary things and done wonders and yet now he is running from this woman. Even prophets have bad days. It is amazing how fragile faith can be when it is constantly under testing. Elijah goes to the wilderness to get away from Jezebel and assumes that God won’t find him there either, he has given up and sees no hope. I know how he feels and I bet you do too. There are times when it just seems that the trials never stop and we feel overwhelmed enough to run away. Fortunately Psalm 139 reminds me that I can’t go anywhere to escape Him.

Philip has seen healings and other miracles like water turned into wine but he can’t imagine feeding this multitude and is thinking of the economics of the situation, never thinking that Jesus could do something miraculous. He is, however, the same One who provided water, manna, and quail in the wilderness for quite a few more than 5,000 people. The people there that day conclude that Jesus is the prophet who is to come, the one Moses promised in Deuteronomy 18. Their conclusion is clearly based here on the provision like Moses in the wilderness, but the difference is that Moses didn’t personally provide and this provision is more than that provision. No one had the faith to believe what Jesus would do this day.

Paul says that we are to grow up in our faith. We have an advantage Elijah didn’t have and that Philip didn’t have at the time of the feeding, we have been given the Holy Spirit. We have a more complete revelation of God, we know the resurrection of the dead not in theory but in fact. The time for wavering faith has gone and we are equipped to stand in that faith because of what has happened inside of history and inside of us. We should no longer be tossed about doctrinally and we need to become the body of Christ to the world. Paul was able and willing to undergo incredible difficulties and hardships because of his faith and he had the same Spirit we have been given. Are we growing up in our faith or are we still like Elijah, ready to quit because of difficulty and threats of the enemy?

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!