Real Survivors

Does anyone else remember the "Survivor" series craze of a few years ago? Or am I so out of the loop that there is another series airing as I write this? Just in case, as a review, the premise of these shows went something like this: You take a diverse group of people, drop them in a challenging environment, and give them various tasks to do. In a show of true community spirit, the group slowly eliminates other members by vote each week. Catfights, backbiting, and drama ensue.

Somebody eventually wins the million-dollar prize, and we have a big group hug at the end of it all. All the contestants hit the talk show circuit for a time, and a year or so later, we have Survivor Reunions.

Just like real life, huh?

While I am poking fun at the whole Survivor series, I must admit I have no desire to attempt the challenges faced by these women and men, and absolutely no stomach for some of the things eaten on those shows. I do well to eat some of my own culinary experiments sometimes.
But while there are men and women out there who are very adept at surviving under some of the most extreme circumstances, we could all take a few lessons from the Desert Tortoise of the Mojave Desert. Deserts are harsh, ruthless, and unforgiving places. So it is especially fascinating to learn how a creature can not only survive, but thrive in such an environment.

Question: What do the Desert Tortoise, Elijah, and us have in common? A lot more than you might think.

First things first. How in the world does the Desert Tortoise of the Mojave manage to survive in such a harsh environment?

He gets plenty of sleep. The Desert Tortoise goes to sleep sometime in November, and awakens sometime in March. This routine probably reminds some of us of our school days in years past, huh?

She finds nourishment in unexpected places. The Desert Tortoise at times gets some of the minerals in its diet from gravel. This information could actually be used as a good excuse for those of us who experiment in the kitchen. Tastes like gravel? Hey, it’s full of minerals! It’s good for you!

Every year or so, it rains in the Mojave, causing plant life to spring forth. The tortoise eats the plants then stores the water from the plants, and reabsorbs it and recycles it into her body as it is needed until the next rain falls in a year or so. The tortoise is actually able to control its internal environment in the face of external and hostile conditions.

Elijah actually chose to head for the desert in today’s reading from 1 Kings 19, which says a lot about the hostility of his environment. At this particular time, Queen Jezebel was killing God’s prophets, and the few that were left were in hiding. Baal was her god, and she had no patience for competing deities. So, silence the prophets, and you silence the deity.

But not this time.

In response to God’s call, Elijah confronts Jezebel’s husband, Ahab, the king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and challenges the prophets of Baal to a show of ultimate divine power. In a show of mighty power, God silences the prophets of Baal, and puts to rest any question as to who is truly God.

This turn of events did not set well with Jezebel, and she sent word to Elijah that now he was on her hit list—and Elijah hits the road. Now, that is one hostile environment.
After journeying to the wilderness, it appears that Elijah has had enough. He sits beneath a broom tree, and tells God he’s had it, that he is no better than his ancestors, and that he just wants to die. Then, he rests.

Notice what Elijah does. He vents to God. He’s tired, he’s done what God wants him to do, and to say the least, the people in power weren’t impressed, and even the God-fearers weren’t coming to his defense. Then, he rests.

Notice what God does. God lets Elijah vent and God lets Elijah rest for a time. God does NOT annihilate Elijah for being tired and discouraged. God doesn’t replace Elijah with a younger prophet and give him a gold watch for faithful service.

The point, folks, is there are times in our lives when we are tired and discouraged. We may be doing the best we can for God, for our employers, for our families and friends. But stuff just happens; and sometimes a lot of stuff happens that just seems to pile up on us.

The good news is we can take it to God. If God is big enough to create the universe, God can surely deal with our telling Him about our problems.

Then, get some rest! Put yourself in timeout for a little while. It’s OK. The world will get along fine without us while we are resting. Just remember that there will come a time to continue our journeys.

After some rest, Elijah woke up and took nourishment prepared by an angel. Talk about finding nourishment in unexpected places! But then he does something we might think is a bit odd—he goes back to sleep! But then he wakes up again, takes more nourishment, then continues his journey.

Folks, we aren’t going to survive long on this journey called life without good spiritual nourishment. Where do we get our nourishment for the journey? From worship services? From Bible studies? Maybe we get some of our nourishment from friends who listen to us and give us good, healthy advice. Maybe we get nourishment from support groups or therapy.

Wait a minute! Nourishment from support groups or therapy? Isn’t that a little unusual? Think about it. Is it possible that "angels" come in many different forms?

There is one more lesson we can take from Elijah’s taking nourishment. It takes more than one meal to give us the strength we need to continue our journeys.

What that means is that it takes more than one worship service, one Bible study, one recovery group meeting, one session with our therapists, or one prayer to Almighty God to give us the strength we need to survive in an often hostile environment! Like the Desert Tortoise, what we don’t use today, we can always store for those dry periods in our lives that are sure to come our way.

Elijah continues his journey for 40 days and nights until he hides in a cave at Mount Horeb. He’s still running. But not for long.

God asks Elijah, "What are you doing here?" Elijah basically replies, "I’ve had it. Life stinks. Death is stalking me. Nobody likes me. Everybody hates me."

But God is having none of it. "Come out of the cave!" God commands Elijah. But even through wind, earthquake, and fire, Elijah didn’t move. Why not? Maybe it was because all those things were too much like what Elijah was experiencing in his life at that time—upheaval, turmoil, persecution, strife. Maybe Elijah just wanted some peace and quiet.

So peace and quiet is what he got—and it is exactly where Elijah found the presence of God. In that peaceful moment, even though Elijah still complained, he found a presence of God that assured Elijah that he mattered. Yes, life is harsh; but I am with you, and I have a job for you. Your life has meaning. In that moment, Elijah found the inner peace he needed to face the hostile conditions of his external environment.

Who needs the Desert Tortoise? Future generations, if the species is to survive. Who needed Elijah? A lot of folks! He was one of the few true prophets left to carry on God’s message to the children of Israel. They definitely needed Elijah to train other prophets if they were to survive.

So it is with us.

Each and every one of us matters to Almighty God. We may not always feel like that we matter; but we do. Who needs us?

Some of us have partners who need us—and we them. Some of us have children and other family members who need us. Most all of us have friends who need us. Our churches need us. Our community needs us to speak out for equality on behalf of those who feel they are silenced. All of us are needed to serve God in one capacity or another. Each and every life has meaning to God, and God has something for each and every one of us to do.

So, get your rest, get proper nourishment, and listen for that inner peace that only God can give. And for goodness sake, come out of that cave! We need you out here!

There’s no need to be afraid, either. After all, if God is for us, who is against us?