Elijah was discouraged.
He had triumphed at the showdown with the prophets of Baal. God had sent fire from heaven. The people confessed that the LORD (YHWH) was God and had killed the prophets of Baal! Elijah had prayed and God had sent rain to end the 3 1/2 year drought. Elijah had been so invigorated that he outran the king's chariot!
But it had not been enough. Even this great victory - this great show of God's power - this decimation of the false prophets and false gods and false worship - it had not been enough. Wicked Queen Jezebel was as evil as ever and was still working in opposition!
If this great demonstration of God's power couldn't wipe the slate clean and get things going in the right direction, what was the use of continuing the struggle? Elijah ran away.
And he ran, and he ran, and he ran. And God graciously listened to Elijah's complaint. ("Blah, blah, blah - I quit!")
Then there was a wind so strong it broke the rocks in pieces. That was followed by an earthquake. The earthquake was followed by a fire.
Each of these was a demonstration of God's great power! Surely God could send a wind strong enough to blow Jezebel away! God could send an earthquake that would shake her city down and crush her in the rubble! God could send a great fire that would burn wicked Jezebel up! But in each of these demonstrations of power - wind, earthquake and fire - the scriptures say, "but the LORD was not in..." the wind, the earthquake or the fire.
After the fire, however, there was a "still small voice." The ESV translates this, "a low whisper." And at this point, Elijah recognizes that the LORD is there. And God graciously listens to Elijah's complaint a second time... ("Blah, blah, blah - I quit.")
Not so fast, Elijah!
Get over yourself - wait on the Lord!
(See 1 Kings 18-19)
He had triumphed at the showdown with the prophets of Baal. God had sent fire from heaven. The people confessed that the LORD (YHWH) was God and had killed the prophets of Baal! Elijah had prayed and God had sent rain to end the 3 1/2 year drought. Elijah had been so invigorated that he outran the king's chariot!
But it had not been enough. Even this great victory - this great show of God's power - this decimation of the false prophets and false gods and false worship - it had not been enough. Wicked Queen Jezebel was as evil as ever and was still working in opposition!
If this great demonstration of God's power couldn't wipe the slate clean and get things going in the right direction, what was the use of continuing the struggle? Elijah ran away.
And he ran, and he ran, and he ran. And God graciously listened to Elijah's complaint. ("Blah, blah, blah - I quit!")
Then there was a wind so strong it broke the rocks in pieces. That was followed by an earthquake. The earthquake was followed by a fire.
Each of these was a demonstration of God's great power! Surely God could send a wind strong enough to blow Jezebel away! God could send an earthquake that would shake her city down and crush her in the rubble! God could send a great fire that would burn wicked Jezebel up! But in each of these demonstrations of power - wind, earthquake and fire - the scriptures say, "but the LORD was not in..." the wind, the earthquake or the fire.
After the fire, however, there was a "still small voice." The ESV translates this, "a low whisper." And at this point, Elijah recognizes that the LORD is there. And God graciously listens to Elijah's complaint a second time... ("Blah, blah, blah - I quit.")
Not so fast, Elijah!
- God has the power.
- God has a plan.
- God will accomplish His plan by His power in His way and His time - Maybe by a still small voice.
Get over yourself - wait on the Lord!
(See 1 Kings 18-19)
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