I Kings 19

Jezebel threatens Elijah verse 1- 2

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done

and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword

Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah

saying

So let the gods do to me – and more also

IF I make not your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow

about this time

Elijah runs to the wilderness to die verse 3- 4

And when he saw that – he arose – and went for his life

and came to Beer-sheba which belongs to Judah

and left his servant there

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness

and came and sat down under a juniper tree

and he requested for himself that he might die

and said

It is enough

Now – O LORD – take away my life

for I am not better than my fathers

Angel gives Elijah food and drink verse 5- 6

And as he lay and SLEPT under a juniper tree

BEHOLD – then an angel touched him

and said unto him

Arise and EAT

And he looked – and – BEHOLD

there was a cake baked on the coals

and a cruse of water at his head

And he did EAT and DRINK – and laid him down again

Angel tells Elijah to eat and drink a second time verse 7

And the angel of the LORD came again the SECOND time

and touched him

and said

Arise and EAT – because the journey is too great for you

Elijah at Mount Horeb (Sinai) verse 8

And he arose – and did EAT and DRINK

and went in the strength of that meat

FORTY days and FORTY nights

to Horeb the mount of God

LORD questions Elijah verse 9

And he came thither to a cave – and lodged there

and – BEHOLD – the word of the LORD came to him

and HE said to him

What do you here Elijah?

Elijah answers the LORD verse 10

And he

said

I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts

for the children of Israel have forsaken YOUR covenant

thrown down YOUR altars

and slain YOUR prophets with the sword

And I – even I only – am left

and they seek my life – to take it away

Whisper of God verse 11- 13

And HE said

Go forth and stand on the mount before the LORD

And – BEHOLD – the LORD passed by

a great and strong wind rent the mountains

and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD

BUT the LORD was not in the wind

and after the wind an earthquake

BUT the LORD was not in the earthquake

and after the earthquake a fire

BUT the LORD was not in the fire

and after the fire a still small voice

And it was so – when Elijah heard it

that he wrapped his face in his mantle – and went out

and stood in the entering in of the cave

And – BEHOLD – there came a voice unto him- and said

What do you here – Elijah?

Elijah’s excuse verse 14

And he

said

I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts

because the children of Israel have forsaken YOUR covenant

thrown down YOUR altars

and slain YOUR prophets with the sword

And I – even I only – am left

and they seek my life – to take it away

LORD gives Elijah an assignment verse 15- 18

And the LORD

said to him

Go – return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus

and when thou come – anoint Hazael to be king over Syria

and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be

king over Israel

and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah

shall you anoint to be prophet in your room

And it shall come to pass

that him that escapes the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay

and him that escapes from the sword of Jehu shall

Elisha slay

YET I have left ME seven thousand in Israel

all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal

and every mouth which has not kissed him

Call of Elisha verse 19- 20

So he departed thence – and found Elisha the son of Shaphat

who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him

and he with the twelfth – and Elijah passed by him

and cast his mantle on him

And he left the oxen – and ran after Elijah

and said

Let me – I pray you – kiss my father and my mother

and then I will follow you

And he said to him

Go back again – for what have I done to you?

Elisha gives dinner for people verse 21

And he returned back from him – and took a yoke of oxen

and slew them

and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen

and gave to the people – and they did eat

Then he arose – and went after Elijah – and ministered to him

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough: now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. (7227 “enough” [rab ] means numerous, pertaining to a relatively large collection or mass, burdensome, full, many, great, or much)

DEVOTION: Have you ever told the LORD that you were done? You had had it. You wanted the LORD to take you home. Your trials were too many.

Some people believe that Christians are never discouraged or depressed. They are always up and ready to serve the LORD. Only those outside of Christ get discouraged or depressed. Here we have an example of someone who was very tired. He had served the LORD greatly on the mountain. He had slain the false prophets. He had run after the chariot of Ahab.

But at the same time, Queen Jezebel threatened him. He runs and hides under a juniper tree. He prays to the LORD. He says that he wants to die. He has had his full of Ahab and Jezebel. He has had his full of being the only servant of the LORD that is faithful.

What is the LORD going to do with him? HE sends an angel to give him food and water. Not only once did HE send him an angel but twice. After these two meals the LORD has him go to HIS mountain. He is able to fast for forty days and nights in the strength of those two meals. When the LORD feeds HIS servants, they receive strength.

Once he is in the mountain of God, he feels a strong wind but the LORD is not in the wind. Next, he feels a strong earthquake but the LORD is not in the earthquake. Then he sees a fire, but the LORD is not in the fire. Finally, there is a still small voice.

The LORD asks Elijah a second time, “What are doing you here, Elijah?” HE wants to know what Elijah is thinking. HE wants to know why Elijah just wanted to die.

Elijah gives him his excuse. I am the only one who is faithfully serving you. I am alone. I am tired. Everyone wants to kill me.

Now if we think through his excuses, we find that if he really wanted to die, he could have stayed in town and Jezebel would have gladly killed him.

However, the LORD deals kindly with him and tells him that he has other who was serving HIM in the nation. HE gives Elijah a threefold assignment. HE wants him to anoint three men. One of the men is going to be his replacement.

Have we ever thought that the LORD has taken us to the limit of our strength? Have we ever thought that HE has gone beyond our limit of what we can take? The LORD does stretch us on a regular basis, but HE also promises that HE will not stretch us beyond our limit.

Elijah thought the LORD had stretched him too far. He wanted to just give up. In fact, he did. God wasn’t done with him yet and told him so.

We are here on this earth for as long as the LORD wants us here. HE has a job for us to do and we are not going home to heaven until we have done our job. It is a great principle to realize in our daily walk with HIM. Some days HE seems to really stretch us. Amen!

Do you want to go to heaven to get away from all your problems or because you want to be with the LORD? Which is first in the order?

CHALLENGE: Our primary reason to want to go to heaven should be to be in the presence of our LORD and Savior. Everything else should be secondary.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. (3581 “strength” [koach] means power, might, ability, physically strong, or able)

DEVOTION: Elijah was discouraged. He wanted to die but instead of dying by the hand of Jezebel he decided to run away and die alone in the wilderness. It didn’t make any sense but that was because he took his eyes off the LORD. He had defeated 950 false religious leaders but was afraid of one evil woman. No sense at all but when you are tired and discouraged and thinking that no one is helping you or caring about what is happening to you, you are not thinking straight.

So what does the LORD do with Elijah? HE encourages him to eat some food. HE encourages him to sleep. HE gives him a destination to find. HE then will work with him to restore him to service.

Elijah needed the ability to travel to Mount Horeb or Mount Sinai. He was going there to meet with the LORD. The LORD gave him the physical ability to travel that far on the food that HE provided through one of HIS angels.

Forty days and nights are recorded a few places in the Word of God. Moses was forty days and nights in the presence of God receiving the Ten Commandments. Jesus was forty days and night in the wilderness being tempted of the devil.

God can give us the ability to fight our personal battles as well as the battles in community when we depend on HIS Word to feed us. Elijah needed to receive power from the LORD to fight the battle with depression.

What happened to Elijah didn’t seem to make sense after such a great victory but it does make sense when we realize that we can use up our physical abilities to fight our enemy the devil. One more enemy can cause us to think that we are not really winning any victories. That is just another temptation of the devil. Elijah listened to the wrong voice. The LORD was going to give him another voice to listen too.

CHALLENGE: What voice are you listening to today? Where is your strength coming from to face the battles the LORD places in front of you?

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: 9 And he came thither to a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, What do you here, Elijah? (4631 “cave” [ma’arah] means den, holes, a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground, or a land formation of a hole in the side of a hill, or underground)

DEVOTION: Where are we in our relationship with the LORD? Are we in a place of confident assurance of HIS provision or are we in a place of discouragement? Elijah had won a great victory but was discouraged because Jezebel threatened his life and he took his eyes off the LORD.

The LORD met him in this condition and just asked him a question. HE wanted Elijah to explain what he was thinking. Did the LORD not know what Elijah was thinking? The answer to that question needs to be answers but us as well. Do we know that the LORD knows what we are thinking at all times? HE asked Adam and Eve what was going on in the garden. Did HE know what was going on? The answer to all the questions is YES!!! God knows our very thoughts at all times. We can’t hide what we are saying or thinking from the LORD. HE is omniscient. That means that HE knows everything about us at all times. HE knows our past, present and future in eternity past.

Sounds wild but it is true. HE is asking the question, so that, Elijah has to think up an answer. Elijah thinks up an answer but it showed that he was thinking wrong. When we are discouraged it is because we are thinking wrong thoughts. God wants us to be encouraged and to be an encourager of others.

Our thinking needs to be corrected by a good dose of the Word of the LORD. Once we start listening to the LORD, we will know that it is the enemy that is putting wrong thinking into our thought process. God loves us and wants the best for us in all circumstances. Nothing comes our way that will not help us grow closer to HIM and get to know HIM better.

Elijah had to learn this lesson and so do we!!! So the question is “What are you doing in the spiritual condition you are in right now?” HE had to ask Elijah the same question twice. How many times does HE have to ask us the same question?

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shall you anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shall you anoint to be prophet in your room. (8478 “room” [tachath] means underneath, below, the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another, or in place of)

DEVOTION: The LORD communicated with Elijah that his job was not done. He still had more assignments to complete. One of the assignments was to anoint his replacement. That man was going to be Elisha. He had to train him.

So, the LORD didn’t allow Elijah to stay where he was in the area of wrong thinking. Elijah thought that he was the only one who was faithful to the LORD. He forgot about the hundred prophets that Obadiah was hiding in caves. He was told by the LORD that in the whole nation there were seven thousand in Israel that had not bowed their knees to Baal. There was a larger group than Elijah had imagined who were faithful to the LORD. He didn’t know enough to ask the LORD about who else might be faithful to HIM.

Apparently, they never had fellowship together to encourage one another. Fellowship is necessary to show others that they are not alone in their service to the LORD. Church is supposed to be a place of genuine fellowship. Hopefully you were in church this last Sunday to encourage others in the faith.

We all have more to do for the LORD while we are alive. Once we are dead there are no more assignments we can do for the LORD. So, if you are alive, HE has an assignment for you to do. Ask HIM to show you what HE wants you to do for HIM this week.

If you are discouraged remember that God communicated with Elijah in a still small voice to give him his next instructions. Listen to the LORD when HE speaks to you through HIS Word or through HIS fellow servants.

Remember you are never alone when you are in the service of the LORD. Remember that your assignments are not done while you are still alive.

CHALLENGE: Remember that HE loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Every day of your life.

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: 18 Yet I have left ME seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has no kissed him. (3766 “bowed” [kara] means to kneel down, to bend one’s knee, to rest one’s weight on one’s knees, often as a sign of reverence, submission or shame)

DEVOTION: Sometimes it seems that you are the only one who worshiping the LORD properly. Here we have Elijah feeling that he is the only one that is doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD. He was standing up for the LORD before the king but it seemed like no one else was there with him.

The LORD had to tell him that he wasn’t the only one but that there were seven thousand more that were not worshiping Baal. This was still a small number compared to all those who lived in the area at the time.

It sometimes feels like we are the only one that is truly worshiping the LORD seven days a week. There are many who seem to worship on Sunday but the rest of the week they fit into the crowd that seems to not worship the LORD. They seem to use the language of the world. They seem to drink the drinks of the world. They seem to not care about witnessing for the LORD.

This seems to be true and sometimes we need the LORD to show us that there are other individuals who truly love the LORD and serve HIM just like we do. It is an encouragement to meet those people once in a while.

This can take place when guest speakers come to the church or when a choir is invited to the church that sing praises to the LORD and genuinely worship the LORD in spirit and in truth.

We need these times of encouragement. We need to see others witnessing for the LORD. We need to see others inviting people to church. We need to see others who practice that habits the Bible encourages us to practice.

CHALLENGE: We need to keep our testimony strong even when it seems like we are the only one who is truly worshiping the LORD.

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Elijah fasted for forty days and nights verse 8

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

Elijah alone with God on mount Horeb verse 9- 18

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Elijah’s prayer for death verse 4

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Altars thrown down verse 10

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Covenant verse 10

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 4, 7, 9-12, 14,

God – Elohim (Creator) verse 8, 10, 14

Mount of God – Mt Horeb verse 8

Word of the LORD verse 9

LORD asks Elijah “What do you here?” verse 9

LORD God of hosts verse 10, 14

Great and strong wind

Brake in pieces the rocks

Earthquake

Fire

Still small voice

Asked Elijah what he was doing

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

Word of the LORD verse 9

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Angel gave Elijah food and drink verse 5

Angel of the LORD gave food and

drink a second time verse 7

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four- hour period of creation)

Wilderness of Damascus verse 15

Hazael – king of Syria verse 15

Anointed by Elijah

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

False god verse 2

Requested death verse 4

Forsaking covenant of LORD verse 10, 14

Broken the altars of the LORD verse 10, 14

Killed LORD’S prophets verse 10, 14

Thinking you are only servant of the LORD verse 10, 14

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Daily food and drink verse 5- 7

Strength verse 8

Jealous for the LORD verse 10

Still small voice of God verse 12

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Ahab – king of Israel verse 1

Jezebel verse 1

Threatens Elijah

Elijah verse 1

Flees to Beer-sheba

Sits under a juniper tree

Wishes to be dead

Visited by an angel 2x that fed him

Forty days and forty nights to Horeb

Mount of God

Jealous for the LORD

Tells LORD that his life is sought

Anoint Hazael – king of Syria

Anoint Jehu – son of Nimshi

king of Israel

Anoint Elisha – son of Shaphat

of Abel-meholah his

replacement

Judah verse 3

Children of Israel verse 10, 14

Jehu – son of Nimshi – king of Israel verse 16, 17

Slay those that have escaped

sword of Hazael

Elisha – son of Shaphat of Abel-mmeholah

Prophet in Elijah’s place verse 16, 17, 19- 21

Those that escape Jehu shall

he slay

Found plowing with 12 oxen

Elijah cast his mantel on him

Ministered to Elijah

LORD has 7 thousand in Israel that have

not bowed to Baal verse 18

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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QUOTES regarding passage

The forty days and forty nights marks a long time and identifies Elijah as a second Moses (Exod. 24:18; 34:28; Deut. 9:8–10), just as it did Christ (Matt. 4:2). (Wiseman, D. J. (1993). 1 and 2 Kings: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 9, p. 184). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

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Again, the angel woke Elijah, perhaps after he had slept for some time, and urged him to eat more food since the journey before him would require much energy. Moses and the Israelites had traveled in that wilderness for 40 years, sustained by the manna God had provided for them and learned lessons of His faithful care and provision. Now Elijah would traverse the same desert for 40 days and … nights, sustained by the bread God provided and would learn the same lessons. A direct trip from Beersheba to Mount Horeb (the ancient name for Mount Sinai; cf. Ex. 3:1; 17:6; 33:6; Deut. 5:2; 1 Kings 8:9; Ps. 106:19; Mal. 4:4) would have taken Elijah only about 14 days on foot (a distance of ca. 200 miles). God was reminding him and teaching him during those 40 days and nights. Finally, He went to the mountain of God, the very place where God had revealed Himself to Moses and the Israelites and where He had entered into a covenant with His Chosen People. (Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Kings. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 528). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)

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19:8 forty days. Elijah’s trip took over double the time it should have taken. Therefore, the period had symbolic meaning as well as showing literal time. As the people of Israel had a notable spiritual failure and so wandered 40 years in the wilderness (Nu 14:26–35), so a discouraged Elijah was to spend 40 days in the desert. As Moses had spent 40 days on the mountain without bread and water, sustained only by God as he awaited a new phase of service (Ex 34:28), so Elijah was to spend 40 days depending on God’s enablement as he prepared for a new commission from the Lord. As Moses had seen the presence of God (Ex 33:12–23), so Elijah experienced a manifestation of God. Horeb. An alternate name for Mt. Sinai, located about 200 mi. S of Beersheba. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Ki 19:8). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

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Ver. 8. And he arose, and did cat and drink, &c.] Of what was left of the cake and cruse of water, before provided for him: and went in the strength of that meat 40 days and 40 nights unto Horeb the mount of God; for so long he was going to that place, though it might have been gone in three or four days; but he went in by-ways, and wandered about in the wilderness, as the Israelites did, and that for the space of 40 days, as they did near forty years; and all this while he had no other sustenance than what he had taken under the juniper-tree, from whence he set out, which must be supernatural; for it is said, a man can’t live without food beyond seven days, see the note on Exod. 24:18. the food either staying in his stomach all this while, or however the nutritive virtue of it, by which he was supported, and held out till he came to Horeb or Sinai; called the mount of the Lord, because here he had appeared to Moses in the hush, and from hence gave the law to the children of Israel. Abarbinel is of opinion that this term of 40 days was consumed in his whole journey to Horeb, his stay there, and return to the land of Israel. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 754). London: Mathews and Leigh)

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19:5–8 It is interesting to notice God’s treatment for this severe depression: rest; food and drink; more rest; more food and drink. Thus fortified, the prophet traveled in the strength of that food 200 miles in forty days and … nights to Mount Horeb (Sinai), where God had given the law to Moses. (MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 381). Nashville: Thomas Nelson)

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The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Ps. 37:23), but the steps of an unbelieving and disobedient prophet only led him into worse trouble. Elijah fled to Judah, forgetting that Ahab’s daughter was reigning there with Jehoram (2 Kings 8:16–18). He traveled more than eighty miles into greater danger. Wanting to be alone with his dejection, Elijah left his servant there and traveled into the wastelands. It is better for a man to walk with another, for “it is not good for a man to be alone.” Loneliness and despondency usually go together. Physically and emotionally exhausted, Elijah lay down to sleep, and his “bedtime prayer” was, “Take away my life!” Moses had prayed this prayer at a time of great discouragement (Num. 11:15), and so had Jonah (Jonah 4:3). Elijah had his eyes on himself and what he had done (and not done), instead of looking to the Lord.

How graciously God refreshed His servant. The Lord knew that Elijah needed food and rest, as well as spiritual quickening. Elijah ate the meal and then went back to sleep. We see no evidence of repentance or confession of sin; it seems as though he had given up. So, God fed him the second time, and this time Elijah got up and started his journey again. The hand of the Lord guided him to Mt. Horeb, where Moses had received his call from God (Ex. 3) and where the Law had been given. It is encouraging to know that even when the child of God is backslidden and discouraged, God cares for him in grace. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (1 Ki 19:1–8). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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5–8. Oh! Reader! do pray observe the tender mercy of a gracious God. Had the Lord taken Elijah at his word, what a sad event! instead of which we find the angel of the Lord feeding him. I cannot suffer the Reader to go on without pausing to remark with me, in what a variety of gracious ways the Lord fed his servant. By ravens at one time; by a widow woman at another. Now by an angel; and now for forty days without food he is preserved. And was he not here a type of his adored Lord and master? Can I look at Elijah from the wilderness of Judah, strengthened for a forty days abstinence in Horeb, without calling to mind thine unequalled abstinence, dearest Jesus, when added to the hunger of the body, and the conflicts of the soul, Satan was permitted to spend all the fiery darts of his temptations upon thee? (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: 1 Kings–Esther (Vol. 3, p. 127). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

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FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

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November 14, 2017
The Definition of Faith
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

The marvelous “faith chapter,” Hebrews 11, is an amazing chapter. Here, faith is defined not as some intangible wishfulness but as “substance” and “evidence.” Let us look closely.

First of all, faith must have a legitimate object, nothing less than the mighty Creator by whom “the worlds were framed” (v. 3) out of nothing but His omnipotent Word.

Beyond this, faith is further defined not by what it is, but by what it does! The man of faith comes to God by “a more excellent sacrifice,” like that of Abel (v. 4), typifying the sacrifice of Christ. Faith will, like Enoch, live to please God (v. 5), and will, like Noah, prepare an Ark (i.e., do whatever necessary out of obedience to God) “to the saving of his house” (v. 7).

True faith will, like Abraham, go out as God leads, “not knowing whither he went,” even “dwelling in tabernacles” (literally “tents”) (vv. 8-9) if need be, as he looks for that city with sure “foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (v. 10). Such faith will even, like Abraham, offer up to God the greatest love and joy of his life, knowing that God will keep His Word (vv. 17-19).

Like Moses, the man of genuine faith will choose rather “to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (v. 25). Faith is even willing to be “stoned . . . sawn asunder . . . slain with the sword,” if need be, for the promises of God (vv. 37, 39).

We are saved by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9), but since we are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10), our faith should motivate us to action. “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). HMM (Institute for Creation Research)

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WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

One day a man saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the road but, even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her. Even with the smile on his face, she looked worried.

No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn’t look safe; he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you. He said, ‘I’m here to help you, ma’am. Why don’t you wait in the car where it’s warm?

By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.’ Well, all she had was a flat tire but, for an old lady, that was bad enough.

Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two.. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn’t thank him enough for coming to her aid.

Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need and, God knows, there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed and, Bryan added, ‘And think of me.’ He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road, the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to get a bite to eat and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole \scene was unfamiliar to her.

The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that, even being on her feet for the whole day, couldn’t erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan. After the lady finished her meal, she paid with an hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back.

The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something was written on the napkin. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: ‘You don’t owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you.’

Under the napkin were four more $100 bills. Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard…. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, ‘Everything’s going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.’

There is an old saying… ‘What goes around comes around.’ Today I send you this story, and I’m asking you to pass it on. Let this light shine. God works in mysterious ways and sometimes puts people in our lives for a reason.

Don’t delete this. Don’t return it…

Simply, pass this on to friends, I just did… (Allie E (NY)

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