Elijah redux

After fighting a nasty germ last week and not feeling like I’ve been returned to full health and full energy yet, I was reflecting on God’s willingness to strengthen and refresh Elijah in the wilderness. Elijah has spoken for God, proven God is real and the false god Baal is not, and now is suffering threats against his life from the powerful and very evil queen of the nation. No wonder 1 Kings 19 tells us that,

Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 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.”

Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 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.

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.”

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. There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. (1 Kings 19 NLT)

That must have been some superfood God via the angel gave Elijah! A forty days and nights walk on one meal! Yet, when he arrived at his destination, he was still discouraged, exhausted, frustrated, and on the run for his life. 

Then the word of God came to him: “So Elijah, what are you doing here?”

Why does God choose to ask questions when he already knows the answers? 

“I’ve been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies,” said Elijah. “The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me.”

Perhaps he’s indulging in a bit of self-pity, but after being threatened with death by the queen, running for forty days and nights, and believing he was utterly alone in his belief in God, you can’t blame even a godly man for being a little down. 

Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.”

Directions: GO. STAND AT ATTENTION. WATCH. There was something God wanted to show him.

A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.

NOISE of hurricane wind.

NOISE of earthquake.

NOISE of fire.

But God wasn’t in any of these NOISY things. 

God was in the quiet whisper, gentle to the bruised, battered, and burdened heart of Elijah. 

When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. 

Elijah recognized the quiet voice of God – he, evidently, was experienced in listening for God’s quiet nature. And he knew to muffle his own voice so that he could hear God. Then he went to the mouth of the cave where he had been protected from the wind, fire, and earthquake and stood still, waiting.

How long did he wait? Was God ready to speak? Was Elijah ready to listen?

A quiet voice asked, “So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?” 

Again, the quiet voice. Calm, without anxiety or worry or concern. Still, but confident. Patient. Waiting for Elijah’s answer. 

Elijah said it again, “I’ve been working my heart out for God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me.”

Self pity again? Perhaps. But more likely it is the exhausted discouragement of his circumstances. The so-called People of God have abandoned their covenant with God, destroyed the places of his worship, and murdered his prophets. Even a deeply committed man of God could feel alone and worn out. 

But God has directions for Elijah that will give him hope. 

God said, “Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. When you get there anoint Hazael; make him king over Aram. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him king over Israel. Finally, anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Anyone who escapes death by Hazael will be killed by Jehu; and anyone who escapes death by Jehu will be killed by Elisha. Meanwhile, I’m preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that haven’t bowed to the god Baal, the mouths that haven’t kissed his image.” (1 Kings 19 MSG)

Anoint new leaders. They will revenge ME and MY NAME. 

And, you are not alone; there are 7000 people who have not bowed to the idol. 

Elijah goes and does what God asks.

Without the wind, earthquake, and fire he might not have recognized the quiet of God, or been able to hear God’s voice. But because he’d been quiet, he could hear the things God wanted him to do. Because he did what he was told to do, God could use him to make a huge difference. Sometimes when discouraged and exhausted, we have to stop and let God refresh us. Sometimes we have to get quiet to hear God. Then we are renewed and ready to be “loud” to do what he calls us to do.

God of the Angel-Armies, the Hurricane Wind, the Earthquake, the Fire, and the Stillness,

Thank you that your ways and thoughts are higher than ours; you know the end from the beginning, and your purpose and plans will be fulfilled. Thank you for your patience and lovingkindness to us when we face challenging circumstances. Thank you for ministering to our battered, bruised, and burdened hearts. Thank you for speaking to us in a variety of ways. Help us to remember the things you have taught us from the past and apply them to our present and future. But help us, no matter the circumstances, to quiet ourselves before you, our Lord and Savior, especially when we are weary, discouraged, or worn down. Help us to forsake unrighteousness and turn to you for your mercy. Minister to our spirits with your loving grace and spiritual “superfood.” Help us to hear your voice and then go do what you need us to do. Help us to be graceful, merciful, and loving, but “loud” in the ways in which we impact this world with your glory. For the sake of your Kingdom and in Christ’s name we pray, Amen. 

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:6-9 NIV)

“Remember the former things, those of long ago;

    I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.

What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.” 

(Isaiah 46:9-10 NIV)

(adapted from a post originally published 2/15/23)