“Question & Answer”

Question:
What historical character may have been in Jeremiah’s mind as he longed for “a wayfarer’s’ lodging place” in the desert? It reads in Jeremiah 9:2 Easy to Read Version> If only I had a place in the desert a house where travelers spend the night so I could leave my people. I could go away from them, because they are all unfaithful to God. They have all turned against him.
Answer:
Elijah did find such a retreat. It reads in 1 Kings 19:4-9 Easy-to-Read Version> and walked for a whole day into the desert. Then he sat down under a bush and asked to die. He said, “I have had enough, Lord! Take my life. I am no better than my ancestors. “Then Elijah lay down under the bush and went to sleep. An angel came to him and touched him. The angel said, “Get up and eat!” Elijah looked around, and by his head there was a cake that had been baked over coals and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then went back to sleep. Later the Lord’s angel came to him again, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat! If you don’t, you will not be strong enough to make the long trip.” So, Elijah got up. He ate and drank and felt strong. Then Elijah walked for 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. There Elijah went into a cave and spent the night. Then the Lord said to him, “Elijah, why are you here?”