Fall 2001
Renewing Our Strength
Clorissa DiPilato

“But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and
came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for
himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD,
take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”

“And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an
angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.” I Kings 19:4-5.

Elijah was battle weary from engaging in contest with Jezebel, Ahab, and the prophets of Baal. In flight for his life, he came to a juniper tree, where he made the decision to submit his life into God's hands. He had seen the hand of the Lord move in phenomenal ways and felt that his life had been full enough. He was ready to escape his weariness and fearfulness through death.

Notice that the angel of the Lord did not come to Elijah declaring that he had a great ministry to yet fulfill. Rather, he was commanded to arise and eat. This was natural food, which would strengthen him for the days ahead, because the journey would be too much for him.

In the course of our service to the Lord, there may come a time when the Lord will cause a seemingly unimportant natural need to be met, so we might receive the necessary strength for our spiritual journey. Because we expect the Lord to deal with us concerning our spiritual needs, we may miss “the angel of the Lord” bringing the message that the Lord does care about the physical realm, and the robe of flesh that we wear.

There are many battles to be fought and victories to be won in our journey through life. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but rather against principalities, powers, and the rulers of darkness of this world (Eph. 6:12). It is rewarding to be spiritually minded, attentive to the battle, and aggressively warring against these powers of darkness.

But there will be times when our strength is depleted and we become weary and discouraged. At such times, we tend to seek out a “juniper tree” where we can hide to nurse our wounds. It is here that the Lord will come to renew and strengthen our outer man, thereby giving greater momentum to the inner man of the spirit concerning all that is before us.

While praying in the garden of Gethsemane as His disciples slept, Jesus made this observation, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Luke's account of this Bible story tells us that they were “sleeping for sorrow.” Elijah also was under the juniper tree, “sleeping for sorrow.” He needed to be strengthened, as there was a great journey before him.

The Scripture says, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:31). The word “renew” means to “exchange.” Part of our “waiting on the Lord” relates to our being obedient when He speaks to us about “natural” things to which we should attend. This may have to do with things which will cause us to become healthier. Thus, we are exchanging our ways for those things which will enable us to be more effective in the outworking of His calling upon our lives.

The Lord sent an angel to address Elijah regarding his natural needs. When someone presses us to eat right, or dress properly when it is cold, that person is an “angel” and we should be very thankful.

After Elijah had been ministered to concerning his natural need, he was able to make the long journey to the “Mount of God” where through an unusual process of training, he learned to hear the still small voice of the Lord.

If he had not received this angelic visitation, he may have arrived, weary from the trip. Rather than hearing the word of the Lord, he may have heard only the cry of his tired flesh. When there is an overwhelming natural need in our lives, it may eclipse that which the Lord wishes to say, or do.

There is an interesting truth through nature that relates to the habits of ravens. The Word tells us to consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; and the Lord feeds them. Ravens have a varied and voracious appetite. The Lord chose the raven for our consideration because He understands our appetites and needs. The same Lord that feeds these ravens will also feed us.

There was a miraculous provision to address the present need of Elijah. The Lord not only fed Elijah, but provided what he should eat. The Lord knows our needs and He will supply. In this we can be confident.