1 Kings 19:11-14 - 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?"
Elijah…scared …. frustrated …. Emotionally tired…ran from Jezebel. The man who had just brought down 850 prophets
of Baal and Asherah…. was afraid of one woman….Jezebel. He was so afraid…and tired….and frustrated…that
he ran a day’s journey…collapsed beneath a tree and prayed to die. As his eyes
shut to a sleep… he thought that he was the only one left that loved and
followed God.
Thank goodness God did not grant his request….he just comforted
and cared for Elijah. He sent an angel…to
wake him and have him eat…a hot cake baked on coals…and a jar of water …two
times. Then God allowed him to travel another forty days to mount Horeb…the very
mountain that Moses was allowed to speak with God…and watch him write the 10
commandments.
As he slept in a cave that night…God appeared to him and
asked him what he was doing… he told him
to go outside the cave and prepare to see God. God was not in the mightiness of
the wind….or the strength of the Earthquake … or even the brilliance of the
fire … God was in a simple whisper. God told Elijah in a soft voice he needed to
go back the way he came….and finish the work he put him on the Earth to
do. And made sure Elijah was corrected
in his assumption that he was the only one who still believed in him. God knew the names of 7,000 men who had not
bowed down to Baal or kissed his statues.
I love the image of God that this scripture paints for
me. A loving…nurturing…caring God…who allowed
Elijah his pity party….then fed him…and let him rest. Elijah’s forty day trip to Mount Horeb …. was
probably spent in fasting and prayer as he walked to the mountain of God. Elijah knew he could find God there…as Moses
had years earlier….so he searched him out …to answer his questions of
frustration and fear.
God was not the loud voice of the wind…or the destruction
and strength of an earthquake…..or even the bright brilliance of a fire. God was a simple whispered voice…so quiet
that Elijah had to really listen to hear it…and know God’s plans for the next
season of his life. God told him to go
back the way he came… like he told Moses….and
Jonah….and Paul. He told him to go back
and finish the job he had given him to do…and let God worry about the details
of that mean queen Jezebel. He told him
to go back and anoint two kings….that would take care of any other problems…then
anoint the next prophet of God….Elisha. It has me thinking this morning… what have
I possibly run away from…before I finished a job God gave me to do there. I
guess I had better be listening for a still quiet voice… a whisper in the night…to
tell me what to do… and prepare myself to go back where he tells me to go.
Father…I am amazed at your love more and more every
day. I thank you for this story that
tells me that your love is simple and complete….requiring us to finish what we
start for you. Help me listen for your
still small voice…and know that you have empowered me with all that I need to do
the work you sent me to do. Help me to
face my task with the boldness of the wind …the strength of the earthquake…..and
the light of your fire in my soul. Amen.
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