Hearing God
June 22, 2007
Sometimes after we have our highest spiritual highs we have our lowest spiritual lows. Such is the case with Elisha. He has wiped out the prophets of Baal. In a story we did not look at he stops the drought and calls the rain down, all while outracing a horse and chariot . But then Queen Jezebel decides that what happened to the prophets of Baal should happen to him. Now he is faced with what he should do. He is the man of God, isn't he. Couldn't he call down fire from heaven and wipe her out. Maybe he could invoke God's protection around him so he could not be harmed. After all, he has just finished a pair of major miracles here.
So faced with a major problem that we know God could work with him to solve, what does the man of God do?
He runs away. And to make matters worse, when God asks him why, he repeats a lie.
1Ki 19:9-18 KJV
(9) And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
(10) And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
If you remember from a few days ago he told this same lie, he was the only one to defend God. If you repeat a lie long enough, I guess you will believe it. We know that Obadiah said that he had 100 that he had hid, and we will find out that there were others. But stop and think a moment. Even if he was the only one, couldn't the God who answered by fire to prove he was God protect him from someone.
So what does God tell him to do?
(11) And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 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 a still small voice.
(13) And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
God tries to point out to him that He is not in the big events. While God did what was needed for the sacrifice, God is not in that. He wants to speak to us in the everyday things that we do. And then, to emphasize it even more, God asks him again, what is he doing here?
(14) And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
Elijah can not get out of the pity party that he is in. He repeats that lie again. What will God do in return?
(15) And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
(16) And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
If God can not trust Elijah to trust Him, then it is time to move on to the next person. God always has a plan B, though He may not call it that. When I did not do what God told me to do by going to Bible school years ago, did it set in motion someone else from doing what I was to do? In this case, though, God says, look, you willanoint Elisha to replace you. You are done Elijah. And he was. He is not heard of for a while after this, till just before he dies. Elisha stays with him through all that, and when the end comes, God calls him up to heaven in his full body. God still had plans for him. Even if he did not pass the test.
What makes this worse, is the fact that God tells him just how wrong he was...
(17) And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
(18) Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
There were 7,000 people who were not worshiping Baal. God had it under control. He was not alone.
Remember God has it under control at all times. When the devil tells you that you are the only one, you are not, trust me.
