1 Kings 19:1-13 – 1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid a and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 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. 9 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?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn 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.” 11 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. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 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?”
The above story happened right after we read the powerful way that God used Elijah in 1 Kings 18. We see that the Lord had used Elijah to prove that the gods of the world are no gods at all. It was an overwhelming victory as the priests of false gods tried to call down fire on a sacrifice to prove that their gods were truly gods. When they could not Elijah then asked the Lord God to give a display that would show that He indeed is the only God. He prayed to God to show His might and to burn up the sacrifice. Then “With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.” 34 “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again. “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench. 36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that You, Lord, are God, and that You are turning their hearts back again.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—He is God! The Lord—He is God!” (1 Kings 18:32-39)
There had been a drought on the land. After Vs. 32-39 Elijah told King Ahab that a heavy rain was coming to break the drought. The rain came as God had told Elijah and as Elijah had told the king.
After these two tremendous displays of God working through Elijah, showing that God’s favor was with him, after that the evil Queen Jezebel had vowed to kill him and Elijah became afraid. It’s almost hard to believe that Elijah became afraid after what God had just done, but he was. So he ran off and we have the story in 1 Kings 19:1-13.
Elijah, full of fear, fled for his life. He said he was tired and just wanted to die and go to eternity with God. He fled to an isolated place and prayed “I have had enough, Lord.” He then, waiting for God’s response, fell asleep under a broom bush.
Notice God’s response to Elijah’s fear. He did not chasten or scold Elijah, but sent an angel to bring food and water to him. God was kind and as Elijah was fearful God reminded him that His hand was still with him. God knew exactly what Elijah needed and out of his love He provided what Elijah needed. He was gentle with Elijah and Elijah was released from his fear and doubt and brought back to being ready to serve the Lord again.
The first words the Lord spoke to Elijah was “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah repeated his lament to the Lord. Then the Lord God began to further strengthen him. God answered with a gentle response, preceding it by strong occurrences. Finally Elijah responded to the Lord’s whisper and went out to meet with the Lord at the mouth of the cave. The Lord asked him again “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah must have had a realization like Peter had when the Lord three times asked him if he loved the Lord. (John 21:15-19) The Lord spoke to both and encouraged them and gave them something to do. He does the same with us.
If we are sad, seek the Lord to be used and He often leads us to pray for and minister to others who are sad. The same thing is we are worried, or if we feel unloved and hurt. As we minister to another we minister to ourselves. If we are wallowing in sorrow, worry or hurt the Lord will come to us and say “What are you doing here Beloved?” He soothes us and heals us and that is by continuing to do what He called us to do. He reminds us of who we are in Him. He gives us back our identity and purpose in Him.
It is never the circumstance or physical location that matters. It is the circumstance of being in His presence and remembering who the Lord is and what He has done that matters. Our physical location does not matter, our spiritual location matters. It is wise to always acknowledge, remember and be grateful for all the good things that God has given us. As we do that fear, worry and hurt fade. Whom shall we fear if God is with us? (Psalm 27:1) Since God is with us, why should we worry? (Matthew 6:25-34) And knowing that He loves us and wants us to come to Him so He can comfort and build us back up blur and mitigate other hurts? (Matthew 11:28-30) You know when we are hurt and can’t be found, He finds us. (Luke 15:8-10, Genesis 3:8-9)
So what is troubling us today? Let us not dwell with it so that the Lord would need to say “What are you doing here Beloved?” It is better to take it to Jesus so He will heal us. He who loves us and is the salve that heals all wounds. Trust Him in all ways. If you truly know and trust Him He will never let you down. Think about it. Praise our God! Praise the beauty of who He is! Praise God!
John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
This entry was posted in Devotion and tagged Genesis, John, Kings, Luke, Matthew, Micah, Numbers, Psalm by Bob with
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