Divine Tenderness

Welcome to today's Our Daily Bread reading is titled the ones in this uncertain Boise.

I once heard a businessman describes years in college is a time when he felt helpless and hopeless from bouts of depression. Sadly, he never talks to a doctor about these feelings but instead started making more drastic plans ordering a book on suicide from his local library setting a date to take his life.

God cares for the helpless and hopeless. We see this in his treatment of biblical characters during their own dark times when Jenna wanted to die in Jonah chapter 4 got engaged him in 10.

The conversation with Elijah Ross going to take his life in first Kings 19 good provided bread and water to refresh him spoke gently to him helped him see he wasn't as alone as he thought going approaches the downhearted with tender practical help. The library notified the student when his book on suicide was ready to collect but in the mixup, the note went to his parents address and state when his mother called him distraught. He realized the devastation, his suicide would bring.

Without that address mixup. He says he wouldn't be here today. I don't believe that student was saved by luck by chance, with roots bread and water. When we need it or timely wrong address when mysterious intervention saves lives. We've encountered divine tenderness. Today's Scripture reading is from first Kings chapter 19 verses 3 to 10 and 15 to 18 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life when he came today. Sheep are in Judah. He left his servant day, while he himself went today's journey into the wilderness he came to a burning bush set down hundred and prayed that he might die. I have had enough Lord. He said take my life. I'm no better than my ancestors and he lay down under the bush and fell asleep all at once, an angel touched him and said get up and eat. He looked around and thereby his head was some bread baked over hot coals. The jar of water.

He ate and drank and then laid down again.

Then the angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said get up and eat for the journey is too much for you.

So he got up and ate and drank strengthened by that food. He traveled 40 days and 40 kn until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night in the word of the Lord came to him. What are you doing here, Elijah. He replied I've been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty, the Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars and put your profits to death with the sword.

I am the only one left.

Now they are trying to kill me to picking up from verse 15 the Lord said to him, go back the way you came and go to the desert of Damascus when you get there. Anoint has EL king of Aram also anoints jq, son of name she king over Israel and anoint Elisha son of Shay fat from Abel May Hoa to succeed you was profit. Jq will put to death. Any who escaped the sort of has sale and Elisha put to death. Any who escaped disorder. Jq did I reserve 7000 in Israel, all his knees have not bowed down to ball his mouth have not kissed him. Let's pray together load these descriptions of you telling Elijah to rest and to eat and to drink and to be refreshed that he's not alone.

But just so precious they give us a glimpse of your very hot for not just him but for us. Thank you for your tender practical care for the helpless and the hopeless. Even us in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Thanks for listening today. Uncertain Boise. In today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries