1 Kings 19:8-18
So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
There he went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.
Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.
Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.
Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."
I wasn't so sure what to think of this passage at first. But I think sometimes I feel like Elijah.
Here's what I think is happening in this story:
Elijah sees a ton of destruction and fears for his life, so takes off to Horeb, the mountain of God. God sees this (obviously, He's God) and speaks to Elijah while he's in a cave at Horeb. He says "um... Elijah, what are you doing here?" He obviously already knows, but wants to see what Elijah has to say about it all. Elijah pouts, and begins to tell God about all the woes of his life lately - "I've been zealous and faithful, but the Israelites are bad. They're wrecking everything, and now I'm all alone because they want to kill me too." God says "ok, well I'm about to go pass by the mountain, and I'd like to talk to you about this. Go meet me there." So Elijah goes. God sends a huge wind, an earthquake, and a fire. Elijah did not see God in these things. But then came a still, small whisper, and Elijah knew it was God. He covered his face and went out to where God was. God asked again, giving Elijah a change to align his perspective back with God's while he's here with him. I think God was trying to prove a point - "look to
ME, listen to
ME, even though I may talk softly, because
I have it all under control." Elijah responds - exactly as he had before. Still pouting, still thinking his life is just sucky. Even though he is right there with God, he is in the presence of the Almighty (and even has to cover his face because no one can see God!)... he was still stuck in his fear and doubt. He didn't understand the power of what had just happened. I can almost sense God taking a deep breath and saying "ok... let me try this another way. Here's exactly what's going to happen and what you need to do. And by the way, there are 7,000 others that I chose - just like you, Elijah! You're not alone! Trust me."
I think very often, like Elijah, I come to God like "this is wrong, this is wrong, this is wrong, and I'm all alone" - pouting almost, and forgetting who I'm talking to. This is the Guy who put me here, now, for His purpose. Nothing is accidental, and everything is meant to lead to Him. And here I am, in essence, saying -
you're wrong. Sometimes I need God to smack me upside the head and say - "I have a plan! Quit worrying about it! There are 7,000 others like you and I'm going to use you to help them! But you just need to trust me!"
God gave Elijah a chance to sit down with Him, a change to realign his perspective, and Elijah chose not to.
God, give me that chance, and help me take it. Remind me of who You are and how much You love me. And use me for those 7,000 (honestly I believe it's more) others that You have also set aside for your purpose.Another thing:
Notice verse 8. Elijah spent 40 days and 40 nights alone (sound familiar?? see Exodus 34:28 and Matthew 4:1-2)
just before God sends him out to do big things. Huh, I'm seeing a pattern here... :-p
