{"id":2605,"date":"2021-01-22T11:19:45","date_gmt":"2021-01-22T19:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=2605"},"modified":"2021-01-22T11:27:07","modified_gmt":"2021-01-22T19:27:07","slug":"devotion-1-kings-191-13-what-are-you-doing-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=2605","title":{"rendered":"Devotion 1 Kings 19:1-13 What Are You Doing Here"},"content":{"rendered":"

1 Kings 19:1-13<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a01<\/a>\u00a0<\/i><\/span>Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.\u00a02<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, \u201cMay 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.\u201d\u00a03<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>Elijah was afraid\u00a0a<\/a><\/span>\u00a0and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,\u00a04<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>while he himself went a day\u2019s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. \u201cI have had enough,\u00a0Lord<\/span>,\u201d he said. \u201cTake my life; I am no better than my ancestors.\u201d\u00a05<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, \u201cGet up and eat.\u201d\u00a06<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>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.\u00a07<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>The angel of the\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0came back a second time and touched him and said, \u201cGet up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.\u201d\u00a08<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>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.\u00a09<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0came to him: \u201cWhat are you doing here, Elijah?\u201d\u00a010<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>He replied, \u201cI have been very zealous for the\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0God 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.\u201d\u00a011<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0said, \u201cGo out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the\u00a0Lord<\/span>, for the\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0is about to pass by.\u201d Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the\u00a0Lord<\/span>, but the\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0was not in the earthquake.\u00a012<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>After the earthquake came a fire, but the\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.\u00a013<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.\u00a0<\/i>Then a voice said to him, \u201cWhat are you doing here, Elijah?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

The above story happened right after we read the powerful way that God used Elijah in\u00a01 Kings 18<\/b>.\u00a0\u00a0We see that the Lord had used Elijah to prove that the gods of the world are no gods at all.\u00a0\u00a0It 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.\u00a0\u00a0When they could not Elijah then asked the Lord God to give a display that would show that He indeed is the only God.\u00a0\u00a0He prayed to God to show His might and to burn up the sacrifice.\u00a0\u00a0Then\u00a0\u201cWith the stones he built an altar in the name of the\u00a0Lord<\/span>, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs\u00a0of seed.\u00a033<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, \u201cFill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.\u201d\u00a034<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cDo it again,\u201d he said, and they did it again. \u201cDo it a third time,\u201d he ordered, and they did it the third time.\u00a035<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.\u00a036<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: \u201cLord<\/span>, 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.\u00a037<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>Answer me,\u00a0Lord<\/span>, answer me, so these people will know that You,\u00a0Lord<\/span>, are God, and that You are turning their hearts back again.\u201d\u00a038<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>Then the fire of the\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.\u00a039<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, \u201cThe\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u2014He is God! The\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u2014He is God!\u201d<\/i>\u00a0(1 Kings 18:32-39<\/b>)<\/p>\n

There had been a drought on the land.\u00a0\u00a0After\u00a0Vs. 32-39<\/b>\u00a0Elijah told King Ahab that a heavy rain was coming to break the drought.\u00a0\u00a0The rain came as God had told Elijah and as Elijah had told the king.<\/p>\n

After these two tremendous displays of God working through Elijah, showing that God\u2019s favor was with him, after that the evil Queen Jezebel had vowed to kill him and Elijah became afraid.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s almost hard to believe that Elijah became afraid after what God had just done, but he was.\u00a0\u00a0So he ran off and we have the story in\u00a01 Kings 19:1-13<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Elijah, full of fear, fled for his life.\u00a0 He said he was tired and just wanted to die and go to eternity with God.\u00a0 He fled to an isolated place and prayed \u201cI have had enough, Lord.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0 He then, waiting for God\u2019s response, fell asleep under a broom bush.<\/p>\n

\"Elijah<\/a><\/p>\n

Notice God’s response to Elijah\u2019s fear.\u00a0\u00a0He did not chasten or scold Elijah, but sent an angel to bring food and water to him.\u00a0\u00a0God 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.\u00a0\u00a0He was gentle with Elijah and Elijah was released from his fear and doubt and brought back to being ready to serve the Lord again.<\/p>\n

The first words the Lord spoke to Elijah was \u201cWhat are you doing here, Elijah?<\/i>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Elijah repeated his lament to the Lord.\u00a0\u00a0Then the Lord God began to further strengthen him.\u00a0\u00a0God answered with a gentle response, preceding it by strong occurrences.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Finally Elijah responded to the Lord\u2019s whisper and went out to meet with the Lord at the mouth of the cave. The Lord asked him again \u201cWhat are you doing here, Elijah?<\/i>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Elijah must have had a realization like Peter had when the Lord three times asked him if he loved the Lord. (John 21:15-19<\/b>)\u00a0\u00a0The Lord spoke to both and encouraged them and gave them something to do.\u00a0\u00a0He does the same with us.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0\u00a0The same thing is we are worried, or if we feel unloved and hurt.\u00a0\u00a0As we minister to another we minister to ourselves.\u00a0\u00a0If we are wallowing in sorrow, worry or hurt the Lord will come to us and say \u201cWhat are you doing here Beloved?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He soothes us and heals us and that is by continuing to do what He called us to do.\u00a0\u00a0He reminds us of who we are in Him.\u00a0\u00a0He gives us back our identity and purpose in Him.<\/p>\n

It is never the circumstance or physical location that matters.\u00a0\u00a0It is the circumstance of being in His presence and remembering who the Lord is and what He has done that matters.\u00a0\u00a0Our physical location does not matter, our spiritual location matters.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is wise to always acknowledge, remember and be grateful for all the good things that God has given us.\u00a0\u00a0As we do that fear, worry and hurt fade.\u00a0\u00a0Whom shall we fear if God is with us? (Psalm 27:1<\/b>)\u00a0\u00a0Since God is with us, why should we worry? (Matthew 6:25-34<\/b>)\u00a0\u00a0And 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<\/b>) You know when we are hurt and can\u2019t be found, He finds us. (Luke 15:8-10, Genesis 3:8-9<\/b>)<\/p>\n

So what is troubling us today?\u00a0\u00a0Let us not dwell with it so that the Lord would need to say \u201cWhat are you doing here Beloved?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0It is better to take it to Jesus so He will heal us.\u00a0\u00a0He who loves us and is the salve that heals all wounds.\u00a0\u00a0Trust Him in all ways.\u00a0\u00a0If you truly know and trust Him He will never let you down. Think about it.\u00a0\u00a0Praise our God!\u00a0\u00a0Praise the beauty of who He is!\u00a0\u00a0Praise God!<\/p>\n

John 1:5<\/b>\u00a0\u201cThe light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Psalm 150:6<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.\u00a0 Praise the Lord!<\/p>\n

Micah 7:7<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0But as for me, I watch\u00a0in hope\u00a0for the\u00a0Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear\u00a0me.<\/p>\n

Micah 6:8<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0He has\u00a0shown you, Oh man, what\u00a0is\u00a0good; and what does the\u00a0Lord\u00a0require of you, but\u00a0to do justly, to love\u00a0mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.<\/p>\n

Numbers 6:24-26<\/b>\u00a0The\u00a0Lord\u00a0bless you and keep you; 25\u00a0The\u00a0Lord\u00a0make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26\u00a0The\u00a0Lord\u00a0turn His face\u00a0toward you and give you peace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 Kings 19:1-13\u00a0–\u00a01\u00a0Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.\u00a02\u00a0So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, \u201cMay 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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1192],"tags":[1865,100,2148,106,101,94,1874,17],"class_list":["post-2605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotion","tag-genesis","tag-john","tag-kings","tag-luke","tag-matthew","tag-micah","tag-numbers","tag-psalm"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2605"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2610,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605\/revisions\/2610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}