Thoughts on Elijah, Part 2
Last week, I talked about the Old Testament prophet, Elijah, and the way I continue to be led to his life as an example when I’m facing trials in my own life.
I concluded that post by wondering why a man of God who had just had such dramatic validation of his work as the contest with the 400 prophets of Baal would run at the threats of one woman. One very nasty woman, no doubt, but still just one woman.
I suppose that’s the same thing that used to prompt me to ask why the children of Israel were so pig-headed during their journey in the desert that they repeatedly challenged God. Why, when they’d seen His power over the nation and rulers of Egypt did they quail at the banks of the Red Sea?
Why, after they’d passed through the sea on dry ground, did they complain when they could find no water?
Why, when they had manna to eat every day, did they complain about having no meat to eat?
I used to ask myself that question all the time. How could they be so blind and stupid?
Note the use of the word “used” in the previous sentence. I used to ask myself that question. I don’t ask that question of the Israelite children anymore because I’ve learned the answer. They were human, just like I am.
I, too, have complained to God, challenged God and asked why I don’t have this or that blessing while the latest blessing is still in my hands, or in my mouth or in my bank account. Those ancient people didn’t do anything I’m not guilty of.
Elijah didn’t do anything I’m not guilty of.
No, my complaints aren’t nearly as dramatic as Elijah’s, but neither are my successes. And yet I frequently find myself emotionally ready to give up after having a success that should have proved God is my power and strength.
So it’s nothing new.
1 Kings 19:10-18
The LORD Appears to Elijah
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 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.”
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 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.”
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 Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”
The interesting thing about this is Elijah’s response to God. He was questioned twice. Two times, God said, “Elijah, what are you doing here?”
Both times, Elijah replied very specifically.
“I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken 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.”
The same answer, both times. I’m not surprised he answered that way the first time. He had just spent forty days making the journey to the mountain. That’s a lot of time to rehearse thoughts like that. He could probably have uttered those words in his sleep.
But after seeing all those signs, then hearing a still, small voice so powerful it put him on his knees, he repeats that answer when he is once again asked, “What are you doing here?”
That seems remarkable to me.
It seems the natural tendency would be to come up with a better answer. Maybe a more humble answer. At least one that seemed less – boastful.
Elijah didn’t do that. He had his answer and he stuck to it. Why?
The only explanation I can come up with is that he was confident enough in his relationship to God that he felt no need to change his response. God knew the truth, anyway. He knows every thought of every man, woman and child who has ever lived, is now living and is yet to live. Answering his questions has nothing to do with sharing information with God.
But it does exhibit a certain amount of self-awareness, honesty in seeing how we are responding and willingness to open ourselves up to God.
And it may also have something to do with the reason Jacob wrestled at Jabok until God asked him who he was. God knew that. But Jacob had been asked by others who he was and had lied. When God asked, he had finally come to the point of admitting who he was: a liar, a cheat, a grasping man.
Elijah had no such sins against him, but he did know how he felt at Jezebel’s threats and he laid all of that at God’s feet.
So how did God respond?
I’ll talk about that next week.