Dear Ones:
There is perhaps no more interesting figure in the Bible beside Christ, than Elijah. We know little to nothing about him before he comes on the scene as a prophet, at a time of great spiritual darkness, and wickedness in high places. He was a very striking figure, in appearance, but also in demeanor. “He was a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins.” (2 Kings 1:8) John the Baptist is said to have come “…in the spirit and power of Elijah.” So, we gather from the glimpses of Elijah, that he was a powerful man, very strong in his will, with the anointing of God upon him, and yet, a man with feet of clay. Why would we consider him? Because we need to see that God blesses imperfect men, and even the greatest of men, have their limits and can know moments of great weakness and solitude.
There were two successive events in the life of Elijah which reveal what a great man of faith he was. The first was his victory over the prophets of Baal, with the fire of God coming down from heaven. The vacillating people of Israel would fall down before God on that day, returning to Him as the only true and living God. Then there would be his intercession on Mt. Carmel, which would result in the end of three years without rain, a judgement on the kingdom of Ahab. In spite of these two monumental events, there would come a day, when Elijah would find himself in a cave on Mt. Horeb, alone with God. Then would come a question to him from the Lord, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” Dominated by fear for his own life, Elijah has fled as far from Jezebel as possible. And in his solitude, he has come to believe several things that are not true. The first is that he is the only prophet left, the only one who has not bent the knee to Baal. The second is that he is no better than his fathers who were unfaithful to God, and this demonstrated, by his flight for safety. The last thing that he has embraced, is that there is no hope in going forward for him…what’s the use? To what end have his efforts availed? And thus, the question, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
I wonder at times if this is not God’s question to us? “What are you doing here?” What ARE we doing here? Have we embraced the same arguments as Elijah, and this, because of the difficulty of circumstances or opposition? What is the remedy to this need? It is the same as for Elijah…hearing the word of the Lord: “Go, return on the way to the wilderness of Damascus…anoint Hazael…anoint Jehu…anoint Elisha.” God’s economy marches on. The issue is always that of responding to His word to our hearts, and going forward. The Lord would also, in his declaration to Elijah, clarify the truth of the situation in Israel, “I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal…”
What is the lesson that we must grasp? Even though we might have a specific, and great calling, we still have feet of clay, and can so easily become prey to going beyond our limits, to becoming persuaded that we are alone, and finally, that we are worse than those faithful ones who have gone before. The remedy for us all is the present response to the revealed will of God. And just as the Lord called Elijah by his name, He does so with us…and then leads us forth. This is the issue, not “success” or “great works.”
“The work is Thine and Thine alone; my work to rest in Thee.”
Love, Dad