The Wind in My Sails Who does Not Fail

The Word of the Lord came to Elijah. Who is the Word of the Lord? Jesus! But He came to Elijah by His Spirit. He gave Elijah guidance as He is prone to do. He guided Elijah to safety and to provision. The Lord provided a river for Elijah to drink from and ravens to bring him meat and bread twice per day. [1]

After that, the Word of the Lord came to Elijah again. He directed Elijah to a town in Sidon to meet a widow. The Lord had commanded that widow to provide for him. She was on her last handful of flour and her last jar of cooking oil, but never mind, the Lord gave Elijah faith to tell her to use them and that they would last until more food became available. She “did according to the Word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the Word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.” [2]

After that, the widow’s son died, but the Lord answered the prayer of Elijah and resurrected her son from the dead. Elijah told her, “See, your son lives!” She responded, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the Word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.” [3]

During the drought, Queen Jezebel massacred the Lord’s prophets, that is except for Elijah and except for 100 prophets that the king’s household manager (Obadiah) hid in caves. The king had sent people to every “nation and kingdom” to hunt for Elijah but the Lord always kept Elijah a step ahead of the king’s assassins and they failed to kill him. After this, the Word of the Lord told Elijah to present himself to the king, which he did. [4]

The Lord was with Elijah. Rather than the king seizing control of him, he commanded the king to

“gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the 450 prophets of Baal, and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” And the king did it. [5]

Elijah exhorted the crowd that gathered, saying, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him.” He declared to them, “The God who answers by fire, He is God.” And the people responded, “It is well spoken.” [6]

Elijah repaired the “repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. He called upon the Lord, saying to Him, “Let it be known that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your Word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” “The fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.” “The people saw it, fell on their faces; and said, ‘The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!’” [7]

Mission accomplished! Elijah obeyed God’s Word and people acknowledged and professed that the Lord is God. Professions of faith in God is the goal of every messenger of God.

When the Lord saved Israel out of the hand of those who hated them, it was that they would “believe His Words and “sing His praise.” [8]

The Lord “satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” [9]

The Lord “breaks the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron in two.” [10]

The Lord “sent His Word, healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” [11]

The Lord rescues those who “are at their wits’ end” when “they cry out to Him in their trouble. He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. He guides them to their desired haven.” [12]

What do those who call upon the Lord have to say about Him? Just this, “Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.” [13]

The Lord is the wind in my sails who does not fail. I testify that the Lord has guided me by His Word to safety and provision numerous times. He has healed me. He has filled me with love, joy and peace. He has often helped me to take on challenges greater than myself and to prevail. “Praise the Lord!”

[1] 1 Kings 17:2-7
[2] 1 Kings 17:8-15
[3] 1 Kings 17:20-24
[4] 1 Kings 18:1-10
[5] 1 Kings 18:19-20
[6] 1 Kings 18:21-20, 29
[7] 1 Kings 18:30, 36-39
[8] Psalm 106:8-12
[9] Psalm 107:9
[10] Psalm 107:16
[11] Psalm 107:20
[12] Psalm 107:25-30
[13] Psalm 108:13