Elijah

Hiding in a cave, sucking his thumb in a fit of self pity and exhaustion, Elijah declared that he, and he alone had been faithful in service to God. He was the only one who had kept God's covenant with Israel; the only one who had overthrown the altars to Baal; the only one who had challenged the false prophets - and now he is the only one left.

This is the answer Elijah gave when asked by God, "What are you doing here?" Now, I don't claim to be an Elijah. Like many of the great men of God whose lives are recorded in the Scriptures, I admire him and aspire to his courage. Sadly, I find that I am less like him in his moments of courage and more like him in his fits of self pity. I understand why Elijah is hiding in this cave. He is exhausted physically and emotionally. He has just won a great spiritual victory over the prophets of Baal but now, he is just tired.

There is an interesting exchange between Elijah and God in the 19th chapter of I Kings. Elijah, having received death threats from Jezebel has fled to the wilderness. As he is there the Lord ministers to him, feeds him, and eventually confronts him. "What are you doing here?"

Elijah answers, "I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." (v. 10)

In reply, the Lord took Elijah to a mountain where he manifested Himself in four ways: a great wind, an earthquake, and a massive fire, and finally, a still small voice. Most readers will remember that God was not found in the wind, the earthquake or the fire - but only in the still small voice. But then, God asks Elijah again, "What are you doing here?" Elijah replies with a remarkably fresh answer, ""I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." (v. 14). Same song, same tired old verse.

Elijah didn't really know why he was there. He just knew he was tired and scared and alone. He had spent most of his life alone - a single voice speaking out against the wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel. It gets old, and it gets to you sometime. What Elijah needed was a fresh word from God. Even his spiritual victory at Mt. Carmel could not replenish his spirit the way a fresh word from the Lord could. He needed to hear God and when he did - he didn't feel alone anymore. I am so there. I need a fresh word from God. Not from a friend and not from a prophet and not from a preacher - but from the mouth of God. Not in great and terrible manifestations, wind and earthquake and fire; but a still small voice.

In some ways, and for this reason, I have exiled myself to the wilderness for a season. I have taken a leave from the church for six weeks not only because I am tired (emotionally and spiritually), but I need a fresh word from the mouth of God. We live in terrible and frightening times and men's hearts are failing in fear - I know God is doing something costly in the Body. I choose my word carefully here - I say "costly" because great things are always costly. I hear men prophesying that God is getting ready to do something wonderful and magnificent - a "new thing;" and I agree. What the preachers often fail to mention is that great things are usually costly things. I am confident that there are men and women who are like the "7000" ( a perfect number) who had not bowed the knee to Baal - in the church, and I am so grateful for them - but right now, I find myself sitting under a Juniper tree, waiting to hear what He will say - to me.