Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, November 6, 2023
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Spiritual drought is real. Yes, Elijah was predicting a literal drought, one that would cause some serious suffering among God’s people for a long time. And this supposedly as a punishment because Ahab was such a lousy king. And while this drought may or may not have been historically accurate, I think it’s more fruitful to look at it allegorically.
God’s people had turned to other gods, because their king said it was cool. We, too, find ourselves continually enticed to follow other “gods” because our culture tells us we ought to. Wealth, technology, celebrity, fashion, sports—the list is endless of those things that we can find ourselves worshipping, only to find ourselves unhappy and unfulfilled and wondering why. That’s spiritual drought.
God is always calling us back into God’s loving arms, promising to quench our deepest thirsts with living water. To fill us to overflowing with everything we need. Let Elijah’s words be a reminder to us that spiritual drought doesn’t have to last, if we just seek the only one who can send us rain.
When have I felt spiritual drought in my life? How did God resolve it?
