"And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mountain of God.". IKings 19:8 King James Version.

The above quoted verse concerns Prophet Elijah, a great man of God with mighty authority in all his days. After exhibiting his zeal for God of Isreal by eliminating all prophets of Baal, Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab treatened to retaliate for the blood of the slain prophets of Baal. The great Prophet then flee for his dear life.

When the holy man of God got into a wilderness, tired and wearied, he slept.

At this point, an angel of God visited him two times to be fed with "a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water" (I Kings 19:6,7) each time. Is there any need for this? "Yes!" is the answer. This great Prophet had fear in him and had fled from death into a far wilderness. He had exhausted his energy; so his strength had failed.

To energise him, he needed food and water which were supplied. This supply gave the needed strength for a forty day and night journey.

What applied to the Priest holds for the people. What is applicable to the leader is applicable to the followers. No one is left out.

Examing the words of the Angel, the first thing is "Arise" in verse five part (d). It is an not ideal to eat while asleep. The man of God was fast asleep when the Angel came to him. There was the need to wake up from your sleep and keep rolling on your bed could amount to idleness or indolence if you are not sick. So, as soon as you wake up from you sleep, arise! To arise is a practical proof that you are ready for the day's activities.

The next recommendation of the Angel was "eat" in verse 5.

To receive the energy needed for the day, there is the necessity for you to eat. To be fed is to be strengthened. Food that you eat will give you strength for the affairs of life for some hours. After a few hours, you may need to eat again when hunger comes visiting. You can do this as many times as necessary per day. You do not need to eat when you do not need it. It will be a waste of resources. Do not over feed yourself.

In the supply of the Angel, water did not lag behind. It came accompanying food. Eating and drinking are two inseparable twins. They walk hand in hand. Both are valuable for human race at large. The Creator knows this very well. Remember that in creation, He had provided ALL that mankind would ever need for five days before He created mankind in His image and likeness, on the sixth day, read the story in Genesis chapters one and two.

What happened after Prophet Elijah had eaten and drank? Action followed after eating and drinking the required quality and quantity, he did not go to sleep again. He went into action. Note the instruction of the Angel again,
"Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for thee" verse 7.

What the Angel called "journey is too great for thee ", I will call it hard work. Now using these words, the Angelic phrase becomes, "there is a hard work ahead of you."

This is the purpose of feeding him. The Angel said"... because... " This is eating and drinking for value for you at work. Whenever you eat and drink, it must be "because" there is a value to produce by your hard work. The equation then becomes: eating plus drinking plus action equals value(E+D+A=V). Each time you eat and drink and takes action you will produce something of value. If you eat and drink without any positive action you engaged in a waste of time or life and resources.

Do you wonder whether there are people who eat and drink without working. The answer is "Yes!". The Scriptures confirms this about certain people who gave God's glory to an idol,
"And they rose up early on the morrow, and ooffer burnt offerings, and brought peace- offerings, and the peoplel sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play " Exodus 32:6.

Let me do a little editing work on this to bring out the opposite out of their story. It will run thus,
"And they rose up early on the morrow,... and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play."
These set of people who were Jews of Moses time, "... rose up... sat down to eat and drink... rose up to play."

What can they add as value to their generation if they live the rest of their lives like that?

Now to you, my beloved reader, what is the purpose for which you eat and drink each day? Do you eat and drink to waste time, life and God's given resources? This is not good and it is not to your advantage. Eat, drink and take positive action to add value to your generation.

Apostle Paul is right to command all saints who were Thessalonians thus,
"...if any would not work, neither should he eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:110.

Let his food and drinks be given to someone else who will eat and drink for value.

NOTE THIS FOR SALVATION:
"The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
Stay blessed and prepared for the imminent coming of the Lord.

The Author is the set man of CTFM(WORLD OUTREACH)and Presiding Pastor of Christ Restland Gospel Church.He is a Poet and author of many books. Visit his blogsites www.4thlink.wordpress.com and www.peacelink.wordpress.com for more quality contents.