by God has been revealing to me some interesting things about Elijah in I Kings chapters 18-19. Most of us know about him calling down fire from God and about God speaking to him in the “still small voice.” There is more behind the story of the “still small voice” than one might think.
Elijah prayed down fire from heaven, killed the prophets of Baal, and now he was hearing the sound of rain. He went up to Mount Carmel, sent his servant to look out across the Mediterranean Sea for an incoming storm. After the seventh time, the servant says, 19:44 “there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.” Elijah tells Ahab to get into his chariot and get off the mountain before the rain hinders the trip. So, Ahab jumps in his chariot and takes off down towards Jezreel.
Now, this is where it gets interesting. Elijah, along with God’s help, ran before Ahab. The sky was “black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.” v.45
I Kings 18:46 “And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.”
As Elijah bolted down off the mountain, the crash of thunder shook his body, and the bright lightening raced across the darkened sky. Rain drenched his body to the bones. His leg muscles were tightening as he dashed ahead of Ahab. The horse’s breath was puffing and snorting at his neck as the chariot pressed close to his heels. He could feel the closeness, as the chariot rocked and rumbled at his back and the horses grunted and neighed in his ears. The smell of fresh, drenching rain was taken in with every inhale. The stormy darkness enveloped the whole landscape. His heart pounded within his chest. There in the distance the city gate could almost be seen. He was fast approaching Jezreel with Ahab hot on his back.
Ahab rolls into Jezreel and tells Jezebeel about Elijah calling down fire and killing the prophets. Jezebel then sends out a death warrant for Elijah. She wants him like the prophets of Baal-dead! Elijah has now gone from running for his life because of an actual storm that had rolled in off the Mediterranean Sea to running for his life from Jezebeel.
Off Elijah goes to Beersheba and leaves his servant at this city. Now he goes a day’s journey into the wilderness and sits under a juniper tree. At this point, I would think we could easily say that Elijah was exhausted physically and mentally. Ever been there? I have. We all have those times in life when we just sit down and wish for our lives to just end. Elijah was human, he was not a super person. He was just like all of us, he got tired, he got discouraged, and he even wanted to die. But God had other plans for him. I am so glad God does not give up on us like we give up on ourselves sometimes.
Finally, Elijah gets some sleep and an angel has to wake and feed him. Still so exhausted, He falls back to sleep again. I would like to think that if an angel made food for me and woke me, that I would be so thrilled with this scenario that I would not fall asleep again. But I have been there, total exhaustion that an atom bomb could not get me up.
Praise the Lord he does not give up on us. The “Angel of the Lord” v. 19:7 came again, woke, and fed Elijah a second time. Now Elijah had God’s strength. Amazing what we can do when we have God’s strength and not our own.
I Kings 19:8-9 “…and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there…”
After traveling forty days, Elijah was exhausted mentally and physically again and now he was hiding in a cave. God even asked him.
I Kings 19:9 “…What doest thou here, Elijah?”
Ever wonder in life, “What am I doing?” Eljiah is now hiding in a cave on the great Mount Horeb. He fears for his life. This coming from a man who had such faith that he called down fire from God and killed the prophets of Baal. Now he hid in a cave and was scared. But do not be too rough on Elijah. We have all been there. There are times when things go great, and next minute, all life is coming apart. Again, God did not give up on Elijah and God does not give up on us either.
Elijah tells God way he is hiding.
I Kings 19:10 “…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.”
Ever have the feeling of “poor me, no one else is going through what I am going through?” There appears to be troubles and trials on every corner of life. Physically and mentally exhausted, you just do not know how you will get through the day? Well this was Elijah.
I love God’s response. He needs to show Elijah his power again. Now, God had proven his power already many times with Elijah, but God did not give up on Elijah. God told him to get to the top of Mount Horeb. On top of the mountain, God showed his mighty, awesome power.
I Kings 19:11-12 “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”
I do not believe our human minds can genuinely comprehend the awesomeness of God. This passage of scriptures tells of God taking the time to show his power to one man, to encourage one man, and to help this one Man-Elijah.
Another thing important here is Elijah’s location. Sometime, while God was showing Elijah his majestic display of power on top of the mountain, Elijah went back to the cave. He hides again. This is when God’s “still small voice” comes in. God had to ask him what was he doing back in the cave. “What doest thou here, Elijah?” God did not lose his patience with Elijah, nor does he lose his patience with us.
I Kings 19:12-13 “…and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
God comforts him. He tells Elijah he is not alone in the storm. God wants him out of the cave and trusting in his power.
I Kings 19:18 “…I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal…”
Question for thought? Are you cowering in a cave today? Prayerfully not. When things get tough and the storms are beating upon you, never think God does not care. Remember he cares. Do not hide in a cave. Walk through each day with the Lord’s strength. He never gives up on us and he always gives the strength we need to go on.
So, if you are in a cave, get out, and let God’s power guide you through the storm.
Please take time to slowly read all of I Kings chapters 18-19.
