“There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke 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. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.” 1 Kings 19:9-13
After finding a measure of peace in the quietness of solitude in a cave, Elijah heard a discerning question from God and we would also do well to hear these same words: “What are you doing here?” (1 Kings 19:9). It is a question which pierces our heart and draws out the pain of our struggles to lay at the feet of Jesus. Once again Elijah threw his troubles onto God in prayer, however, in this we see he still engaged in self-justification and his own reasoning, incorrectly concluding he was the last man standing in God’s kingdom. God was not finished with Elijah. His purposes were far-reaching to secure the remnant of 7000 faithful Israelite believers.
Elijah was directed to stand upon the mount before God and witness a spectacular display of nature in the form of a great wind, an earthquake, and a fire, that appeared to speak the language of the Law and of being judged in harshness. But God was in none of these trembling scenes.
Elijah’s heart was transformed from fearfulness to worshipful surrender when God spoke to him in the still small voice of God’s abiding relationship with Elijah. It was a soft whisper of the Holy Spirit, a powerful yet quiet, gentle voice that wooed Elijah back to calmness as he wrapped his face in his cloak and intimately communed one on one with his God. The coldness and bitterness of fear that had frozen his heart now melted in the flow of God’s tender and penetrating words to him.
Question 3: How has God’s mercy shown at the cross and the still small voice of the Holy Spirit quietened your heart in times of fearfulness, walking you away from darkness into His light?
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As we stand in awe before the bleeding Savior’s display of love for us at Calvary, God’s truth convicts, washes, teaches and stabilizes us as we bathe in His enduring peace and full pardon.
Elijah was a forerunner of John the Baptist in the New Testament, both men challenging their people to produce fruit in keeping with repentance and turn wholeheartedly to God (Matthew 3:8). Elijah confronted others with these words:
"How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word." 1 Kings 18:21
Fear can make us waver between two opinions as well, following the truth of the transformative gospel of Jesus Christ or the perceptions of enslaving anxiety. Have you a foot in both camps, as it were, moving like a wind vane in stormy and still weather?
Look up to Jesus who never hesitated and was resolute in fixing His eyes on the cross to set you free by His death from the power of your struggles. He took the punishment of your sin, and the wrath due for the unholiness of sin, and defeated your enemies of death and Satan. Jesus has cleared the way for you to walk in the Spirit, as He pleads with love without ceasing to maintain your perfect justification before His Father.
“Listen to my testimony: I cried to God in my distress and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears!” Psalm 34:4 TPT