Elijah had just witnessed a great victory in a contest where he, the prophet of God, versed the 450 prophets of Baal; he then eradicated the prophets of Baal, enraging Jezebel, who threatened his life. Despondent, discouraged, and probably depressed, Elijah flees fearing for his life, sits down under a tree, and asks God to kill him (“Lord, take my life”); then he lays down and goes to sleep, only to be awakened by an angel that had prepared food and drink for him. This was repeated the second time because the journey ahead was too great for him in his own strength, and he then went in the strength of that food for forty days! (Read Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 16:29-19:18.) The truth of the matter is that we, as God’s people, are faced with attacks and threats of the enemy, day after day, that in our own strength we are unable to cope with, as he tries to discourage, depress, and defeat us; “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day …” (Ephesians 6:12-13). Always remember, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (Psalm 34:7). To encamp is to be inclined to abide with you, or literally “to pitch a tent”; and the fact that he is “all around” tells me there is no side of us that his ministry and protection does not cover (2 Kings 6:17 & Daniel 6:22). As the Psalmist contemplates our position as we abide in the presence of God, he says, “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up …” (Psalm 91:11-12). And Hebrews 1:14 points out that all God’s angels are ministering spirits sent to minister to us who are heirs of salvation.

An Angel To Help

-by Rose Hill

One day Elijah got a bad message indeed,

Queen Jezebel said, “I’ll kill you with speed.

You will be dead by this time tomorrow night,”

So Elijah to Beersheba took his flight.

Then he went to the wilderness traveling all day,

And that evening sat under a tree to pray.

He said, “Now Lord I’ve had enough,

This life for me is just too rough.”

Then he lay down and went to sleep,

But an angel awoke him and said, “Now eat.”

So he got up and ate the bread,

And then went right back to bed.

But the angel touched him and said, “Eat again,

For you on a long journey God doth send.”

So when life gets rough and the journey gets long,

And everything seems to be going wrong.

There is an angel by your side,

He will give strength and with you abide.

Your angel will go with you through the year,

Trust in God’s protection and you’ve nothing to fear.

For God has ordered him to protect you wherever you go,

He is very strong and can help you, you know.