{"id":311089,"date":"2024-07-16T14:50:33","date_gmt":"2024-07-16T18:50:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/?post_type=bible_study&p=311089"},"modified":"2024-07-16T15:11:33","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T19:11:33","slug":"bible-study-pentecost-12-b-august-11-2024","status":"publish","type":"bible_study","link":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/bible_study\/bible-study-pentecost-12-b-august-11-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Bible Study: Pentecost 12 (B) \u2013 August 11, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Note: During the 2024 Season after Pentecost, Sermons That Work will use Track 2 readings for sermons and Bible studies<\/em>. Please consult our archives for many additional Track 1 resources from prior years.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCL: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:1-8; Ephesians 4:25-5:2; John 6:35, 41-51<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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1 Kings 19:4-8<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In the Old Testament reading for Proper 14, we encounter the prophet Elijah fleeing for his life from the wrath of Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab of Israel, who has vowed to kill for his violent acts against the prophets of Jezebel\u2019s god, Baal (1 Kings 18:20-39). Elijah has left his companion and has fled into the wilderness on his own, afraid, exhausted, and overwhelmed by all that he is confronted with. How many times have we found ourselves overwhelmed and exhausted by our own concerns, the endless concerns of the world, and the utter feeling of despair that, seemingly, it does not matter what we do, we cannot stop the suffering with which we are confronted? There is just not enough we can do. We are not \u201cenough.\u201d It is easy to sympathize with Elijah, who, amid his despair and exhaustion, simply sits down under a tree and says to the Lord, \u201cIt is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life\u201d (v. 4). However, we must examine what Elijah does next. He allows himself to fall asleep, and in the midst of his own \u201cwilderness,\u201d he rests and only then does an angel appear to bring him physical nourishment. Elijah then lays down again to rest, and again the angel of the Lord comes to him with more nourishment and encouragement to get \u201cback on the road\u201d and to face his own journey of \u201cforty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God\u201d (v. 8), where the work of the Lord awaits him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes the most difficult things to do are to step back while in a \u201cwilderness\u201d period of our lives, take a deep breath, and rest. To have faith that physical, spiritual, and inspirational nourishment will be provided that only can occur in a time of rest and calm. Even in the wilderness. Scripture is full of stories where God shows up in the wilderness. We need to take a breath, take a rest, and slow down, opening ourselves to the quiet voice of the Lord. In faith, God will be there to provide the nourishment we need to give us strength for our own journeys and to address the suffering of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n