Verse of the Day 8/7

 

1 Kings 19:9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

And the word of the Lord came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  New International Version (NIV)

 

Yesterday we considered how  God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah and told him to "get up on his feet and go".  Today's verse deals with another of God's prophets, Elijah.  Talk about a case of ups and downs, Elijah had recently had a great victory over the 450 prophets of Baal only to turn tail and run from the death threats of King Ahab's wife Jezebel. 

 

In this chapter the Lord speaks to the prophet and twice asks the question "what are you doing here"? (v.9&13).  As with the prophet Jeremiah, God had work for him to do.  After a great victory, Elijah felt like he was alone against Jezebel, against the world, but God reminded him that there were plenty of others on his side, and most importantly, God was on his side.  God also told him "go" (v.15) and Elijah obeyed, he got up and "departed from there" and found help in the person of Elisha to carry out his missions.

 

If we look back in our lives we may find times where we stood our ground in faith against the odds, against circumstances only to flee, to run from situations, to run from God when faced by lesser things.  Sometime God will speak to us in the same way "what are you doing here ________ (insert name)?   It is a time to come to our senses, to realize who is in control and to get on with what God has called us to do.

 

Sometimes He calls in a low whisper (v.12) other times it may seem like He is shouting at or to us.  The question is are we listening for His Word, for His voice and if we hear it will we get up and go?

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

1 Kings 19:8-10The Message (MSG)

^8-9 He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep.

Then the word of God came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?"

¹⁰ "I've been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies," said Elijah. "The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."