1 Kings 19: 9-18
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 alters, 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 alters, 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 Isreal–all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.
A Thought
Although God had led Elijah to execute the prophets of Baal, Elijah is now on the run from the threat from Jezebel to kill him. Elijah was hiding in a cave for the night, when the word from the Lord spoke telling him to go out and stand on the mountain to be in the presence of the Lord. Before the Lord appeared, a powerful wind tore the mountains apart, there was an earthquake, then came a fire; but the Lord was not in any of these great signs. After all of these signs, a gentle whisper asks Elijah, “What are you doing here?” After hearing, Elijah stood on the mouth of the cave, pulled his cloak over his head and answered with fear for his life that he was the only one left and now they are trying to kill him. The Lord sends him back with instructions to anoint a new king over Aram, a new king over Israel and to anoint a prophet to replace him and they will killed all those who have bowed down to the god of Baal. The Lord also saved a renament of 7,000 Israelites who had not worshiped Baal.
God rescues us in our time of need even when we feel we are the only one trying to right. We need to face our problems with faith in God and listen to that quiet still voice that will lead us into all truth.
Our Prayer
Father that you that you rescue us by the power of your word when we face the fiery darts of the enemy. Thank you for the gift of talking to you in prayer in the name of your Son knowing that you are working for our good in all things. We ask that you empower us by your Spirit to accomplish you will in us and on earth as it is in heaven, in Jesus’ name, amen.
