Wed.’s Devo - God’s Deliverance

Read: 1 Kings 19:1-21; Acts 12:1-23; Psalm 136:1-26; Proverbs 17:14-15 Elijah had come back to Jezreel expecting to be promoted to Prophet of Israel but instead, he was met with a death threat from Jezebel who was not impressed with his power. All of her prophets were now dead and she was determine to pay Elijah back. *** Elijah fled to Beersheba where he found a tree and sat under it praying for the Lord to end his life. He went to sleep and was awakened twice and told to eat warm bread and drink water provided by angels. This food would sustain him 40 days and nights on his journey to Mt. Sinai. When he got there he found a cave to sleep in on the mountain. God came to him and asked him what he was doing there. He explained how Israel had strayed so far from Him and had killed all His prophets and he was the only one left. *** God told him to get up and stand by the opening of the cave. He caused a windstorm to hit the mountain first, then an earthquake and then fire. God did not speak out of any of them, but when he spoke, it was with a whisper. *** God asked him the same question and got the same answer. God then gave Elijah his assignment. He was to first go to the wilderness of Damascus which was around 200 miles from where he was. There he was to anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then he was to anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, then he was to anoint Elisha to replace him as God’s prophet. *** Elijah did not do as the Lord asked. He went straight to Elisha who was closer to where he was and found him plowing 12 teams of oxen. He threw his mantle across his shoulders and walked away. Sounds to me like Elijah was done. *** Elisha understood what Elijah had just done and used the wood from his plow to make a fire. He slaughtered his oxen and cooked them on the fire and gave the meat to people in the town. Then he went with Elijah to be his assistant. *** It would be Elisha who would anoint Hazael to be king of Aram and Jehu the king of Israel. *** In Acts, King Herod Agrippa began persecuting the Christians. When he saw how popular it made him he continued. He killed James with the sword and arrested Peter all during the Passover week. Agrippa was going to try Peter after the celebration but the church began to pray earnestly for Peter’s life. *** The day before the trial, an angel of the Lord woke Peter up and told him to get up. His chains fell off and he was told to dress and go with him. Peter obeyed but thought he was dreaming. The angel took him out of the prison and to the gate leading to the city. It opened and the angel disappeared. He ended up going to Mary’s where the other believers were staying. They were amazed to see him. *** Meanwhile back at the jail. They woke to find Peter missing. When he couldn’t find Peter anywhere, he ordered all the guards to die. Then Agrippa left to stay in Caesarea for a while. *** While he was in Caesarea, the people of Tyre and Sidon came to Agrippa to make peace. When Agrippa came to meet with them the people shouted that Agrippa was a god, not a man. He accepted their worship and was immediately struck with a sickness. He was consumed with worms and later died, thus proving he was no god. Lord, when you move we can expect deliverance for us and judgement on the wicked - just like what happened for Peter and happened to Agrippa. Thank you for being our deliverer. Thank you that we have no fear of the future because we know who is guiding us and it is your purpose that will stand. May we fulfill your purpose in our lives and not give up before our assignment is through.