“And he (Elijah) lay down under a juniper tree; and, behold, an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water. And he did eat and drink and laid him down again. And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for thee.” I Kings 19:5–7

Sometimes God‘s people are on the mountain tops and at other times we see them in the valleys. Sometimes David says, “With my God I can run through a troop” and then he asks, “Lord, why dost thou hide Thy face from me in my troubles?”

Here we see the great Elijah under a juniper (broom) tree. What a man of God he was and had been! A prophet of judgment, fearlessly bringing his messages. Into the very presence of Ahab he had gone, telling him about his prayer and the coming dreadful drought. That‘s like going into the Kremlin and telling the men there of some sure impending doom coming upon Moscow and that he had prayed for it. And therefore it would surely come to pass. What a man of faith Elijah had been, in the sacrifice on Mount Carmel and also in the slaying of the 450 Baal prophets. And what a joy he had had, running “like a deer” ahead of Ahab’s horses, thinking that now the people would repent. Hadn’t they “confessed” on Mount Carmel, “The Lord, He is God, the Lord, He is God”?

But when Jezebel heard about this, it became apparent to Elijah that she was still in control. And he got scared. And he fled! All the way beyond the southern border of Judah. There he would be safe from her. And, being very tired, he fell asleep under a tree. He said to himself, “What’s the use!” He felt that he has been as unsuccessful as his fathers had been. He was completely broken down in body and spirit. All seemed hopeless.

Is this the same man who appeared before Ahab? Is this really Elijah?

Don‘t be too critical of Elijah. It is possible that young people will be more severe in their criticism than older people who have been longer on the “battlefield.”

The truth is that many Christians can identify themselves with this great man of God. In fact, in this history he comes very close to many of us. Like Elijah, we don’t commit suicide, or attempt it, but we are tired of life and would rather die than live.

The Scriptures often speak of battling, struggling Christians who face much opposition. But there are many church people to whom this does not apply. Surely we may not compare Elijah’s depression with the general, mental and emotional depression which is common to millions of people. People have been compared with salmon fish. The dead ones always float down with the stream. But the living ones “are always swimming up stream, with determination, despite difficulty. Many church members, like the dead fish, go along with everything. They have no problems and no difficulties. But the living Christian, is always going up stream, often facing opposition, fighting against sin and all it represents. He is the one who can sing, “Onward Christian soldiers,” or “Stand up, Stand up for Jesus.” But it is exactly such people whom God often sees under the juniper trees. Sometimes, or even often, they become tired and depressed. How discouraged some Christians do become! Problems can be so big and disappointments so great! Even to the point, that with Elijah, they lose the desire to continue to live.

This is not an isolated case in the Scriptures. Moses and Jeremiah became discouraged. Even the Lord Jesus in His human nature had the struggle in Gethsemane, when His soul was sorrowful unto death.

And what is God’s attitude toward Elijah?

Does the Lord rebuke him? On first thought one might expect this. Wouldn‘t it have been most natural for God to say something like this: “Elijah, what in the world are you doing here? Didn’t I always give you what you needed? Haven’t I always given you the strength you needed?” Or, “Come on, get with it. Surely this is not the way of faith.”

But we read nothing of the kind. God‘s attitude is so considerate. The Lord lets him sleep. Already here we see Jesus as the sympathizing high-priest.

Then an angel, sent by Elijah’s faithful Lord, touches him and wakes him up, showing him the food that has been prepared. The Lord knows that his body is in need of strength, and therefore needs food. Right next to him there is a “charcoal fire” with food on it. God is concerned also about Elijah’s physical needs.

Elijah eats the food. He doesn’t seem to be surprised to be awakened by an angel. Neither does he seem to be impressed by the way that fire and food appears. Having eaten it, he lies down again and goes back to sleep. Who cares? Deeply depressed people don‘t have many questions. Elijah is completely indifferent. But God is patient and understanding with him. He sends the angel the second time, again showing him the food and telling him that he will need this because of the great journey he still has to make. The Lord is thinking about his future.

What love, and what patience!

Isn’t the Lord often very impatient with the unbelief of sinners? Don’t we often find Jesus arguing with and condemning the Pharisees severely for their unbelief?

Surely there is a big difference between the unbelief of non–Christians and the weak faith of true children of God. The Pharisees didn‘t really believe; they wanted signs instead of faith. But true Christians want to live in faith; they live by the Word and pray for more faith. But, their faith may at times be weak. The hills can be so steep or the valleys so deep, that their faith falters, and they, too, want to lie down under their juniper trees.

Elijah thought about nothing but dying. But God had different thoughts. First of all in His great love (which is the love of Jesus Christ) He cared for Elijah‘s body. The Lord also thought about his future needs. God is way ahead of Elijah! He was thinking of that long trip Elijah has to make to the south to Mount Horeb. And the Lord also took care of that. How faithful He is!

Elijah had to see the miracle of the fire and food. “My children,” the Lord means to say, “I am the God of miracles.” Don‘t ever forget this. With God there are no big and small problems. He is the God of the impossibilities. And as long as we have to live He will give us what we need, physically and spiritually. Of this we may be sure!

And He thinks of our future much more than we do. He is always ahead of us, as He was with Elijah. Also in special needs and circumstances He will see to it that what we need will be supplied.

Often we hear Christians who have confronted special needs, speaking of some radio message, or some sermon, or thought in a sermon, or some article in a Christian magazine that was “just for them.” This is not an accident. The God of Elijah, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, put that message ahead of them, knowing their needs and caring for them in His great, infinite, understanding love.

Of course, this also means that He will provide for those needs in the future. He knows the journey each one of His people will have to make in the future. For older people that journey may not be much longer. For younger people it may be much longer, and who knows in what kind of world. But the length of time really makes no difference. Remember this, parents of younger children, the God of Elijah will provide, always.

God‘s promises are exceedingly great and rich for all of us in our weak faith under the juniper trees. His understanding, love and amazing patience are so real.

My God how great Thou art!