Friday, January 27, 2012

Temptations in a Wadi

The Bible makes clear that Elijah "was a man with a nature like ours." (James 5:17). Being human, he felt all the temptations that we would. Having been directed to this wadi, what might he have thought when he lived there? Let us imagine the trials that he faced daily.

Did boredom afflict Elijah? After he established a cave to sleep in and set up his meager household what did he do with his time? Most commentators guess that he was probably there for as long as the rainy season would have lasted—about 6-8 months. Did he walk up and down that ravine watching for changes in the wildlife? How did he conduct himself?

Was loneliness a struggle for him? When one disobeys prison rules, the punishment is solitary confinement. Many prisoners are broken by this treatment. Elijah was not shattered but kept sane, whole, and growing. Silence is a discipline that many today would find extremely hard, especially with the distractions they have been raised with. Here in the deep silence of Cherith, Elijah develops an unbroken sense of God’s presence and sensitivity to His leading.

Did Elijah wonder if his provisions would stop? God had said of Israel that He humbled them, allowed them to hunger, and then fed them with manna so that they would learn that they did not live by bread alone, by every word that came from His mouth. (Deuteronomy 8:2-3). Each day, Elijah learned this same lesson as the ravens brought him his food.

Was Elijah ever tempted to complain about his provisions? Israel despised God’s manna and asked for meat. God granted their request but judged them for it. Elijah did not complain about the meals, even though they were only bread and meat. The supplies were "enough", but not luxurious. He learned to be thankful for what God did provide and was not angry with Him for what He didn’t. We also must learn to be thankful where God has placed us.

Elijah passes all the God-given tests in the wadi. Boredom, loneliness, looking to God, and not complaining were some of those things that he must have faced. These temptations come to us all at various times of life. Will we also be faithful?