“AS I WAS SAYING—“

You know one of the things I love about reading the Word? It is when God’s light bulb comes on and illuminates a unique nuance in a passage you have read many times. Thereby signifying that the understanding of the Bible is a life long challenge. Well today I want to visit about one such incident for me and it is found in I Kings 19 beginning with verse 9 and continuing through verse 14.  

Here we have related the encounter Elijah had with God on Mount Horeb. If you are familiar with the story you will remember that Elijah was feeling a bit out of sorts with his current situation and was nursing his emotional wounds in a cave. In verse 9 God asks him what he is doing here and in verse 10, Elijah responds by reminding God of his zealousness; informs Him that all His other prophets have been put to death because they were trying to turn God’s people away from worshipping idols—thus indicating if this were the case God somehow would not have been privy to that information; and asserts that he is the only true prophet remaining and the covenant rejecting Israelites are now after him. (Incidentally later in that chapter God acquaints Elijah with the fact that there are 7000 worshipers in Israel that have not bowed to foreign gods. Talk about misinformation!!)

In an effort to grab Elijah’s attention and rejuvenate him God brings him into His very Presence. (verses 11-13) He portrays His glory appearing in the form of a powerful wind, an earthquake, a fire, and then finally in a gentle whisper which is where Elijah truly experienced Him. Usually this is the concentrated focus of the story but today I want to center our attention on a rarely mentioned aspect.

To recap, Elijah has voiced his complaints in response to God’s inquiry.  Then we read of the amazing, awe inspiring demonstrations of God’s power. But here is the shocker. After all of this, God once again asks Elijah what he is doing here and doggone it if Elijah does not repeat the exact same rhetoric (vs 14). Almost as if he had been so absorbed in his personal pity party that he was completely unaware of all of the Divine ruckus!! Kind’ve like he viewed God’s supernatural presentation as nothing more than an interruption. I can almost hear Elijah saying “OK that was interesting. Now where was I?”

Oh my gosh. You can kind’ve see God sighing and shaking His head while muttering “really?”. But in His gracious mercy, compassion, and understanding of human nature He overlooks Elijah’s inability to comprehend the exhibition of God’s power he had just witnessed. In our common vernacular God basically told him to pull himself together. And gave him directions for where to go and instructions for what to do when he reached his destination. In addition assuring him that all was well and help would be provided. He also arranges for a companion in the person of Elisha who would assist in carrying out God’s purpose.

I wonder if we were brutally honest would we have to confess that we have exhibited that exact behavior. God finds us discouraged and sulking. He shows up in response to our imploring prayers manifesting His glory. But instead of recognizing and acknowledging His Presence we ignore it all—too caught up wallowing in self misery.  Somehow we find ourselves more comfortable in that state than we are in allowing God to raise us up. Like Elijah we interpret the Almighty’s intervention as an intrusion into our brooding. But praise be to the good Lord that He will not be dissuaded in showing His love, rescuing us, and providing us with direction and instruction. Rather than imitate Elijah’s reaction, it behooves all of us to keep our spiritual antennas high to catch even the faintest glimpse of God in our vicinity.