1 Kings 19:4-8 - What God did while Elijah slept

Elijah the prophet confronted the wicked, corrupt regime of King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. He had prophesied three years of drought. When famine didn't get their attention, Elijah arranged a contest that ended with the execution of 850 false prophets--men who ate at the queen's table. Worship of Jezebel's false gods was decimated and the people returned to the Lord of Israel. (1 Kings 18)

Jezebel threatened revenge.

Elijah was drained: physically, emotionally, spiritually. He "was afraid for his life and fled." A servant accompanied him part way and then,
“...he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.' 5a Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree....” (1 Kings 19:3-5a, New Living Translation, 2015)

Elijah wasn't just depressed, these weren't merely suicidal thoughts. He deliberately went into the wilderness without any food or water, hoping to die there.

“5b But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, 'Get up and eat!' 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, 'Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.' 8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.” (1 Kings 19:5b–8, NLT)

God had asked a lot of Elijah, but now he let Elijah sleep.

And while Elijah slept, totally unaware, God baked bread. Or at least He had an angel bake bread (an early recipe for angel food cake?). 

Twice God provided bread; twice God provided water.

Lord, there are times when we are too worn down to even think straight. We end up alone. Exhausted. In those times, we ask for rest. We turn to Jesus: the Living Bread, the Living Water (John 4:10, 6:51). In His name we ask for restoration, both body and heart. Amen.