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9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

The Lord Appears to Elijah

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?”

14 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.”

15 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.16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 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. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

 

Poor Elijah was very depressed. He had not seen the people repent to the extent that he would have liked. Miracles had happened in front of their eyes, but many still remained unmoved. To make matters worse, he was being persecuted and feared for his future.

Although he made a pivotal decision to run away into the wilderness in his fear, God still found him and encouraged him and gave him ideas for a path forward. We can take some hopeful ideas from this story. First, God can reveal hopeful possibilities in the middle of what appears dismal. In the story, God made clear to Elijah that there was still a remnant of people that would follow God. Elijah had allowed himself to be so overtaken with the sins of many that he missed seeing the righteous few. (God, on the other hand, can clearly see those who are His).

Second, even in depression and fear, God will speak. We need to listen for His still and small voice which is full of grace. After Elijah spent some time in prayer, he was able to finally hear God. Last, there is always going to be a mission for us as long as we are breathing. Despite Elijah’s cowardice, God revealed a new path for him in his wilderness.

Allison Montgomery

Yes5olias1@yahoo.com

 

Prayers for hope and healing for those battling cancer and other medical conditions.

Alternate verses: Romans 11:1-6 and Psalm 78:17-20