Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’
14 He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. (I’VE DONE MY BIT LORD!) The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’ 1 Kings 19:9-10, 13-14
Elijah had a major confrontation, at close quarters (CQB – Close Quarters Battle) with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah and after the Lord gave him victory, he’d slain them all. But the woman Jezebel had threatened to take his life and he’d fled from her to a cave on Mount Horeb, where he had a powerful encounter with the Lord.
Elijah was at a very low point/totally deflated when he had his encounter with the Lord. Elijah had definitely decided he’d had enough of fighting the Lord’s battles in Israel. The verses above are quoted twice in quick succession. OUR WORDS LOCATE US and Elijah told God that he didn’t have anything more to give, but his words weren’t fully accurate. When we’re feeling down it’s so easy to only look at the negative and exaggerate the things which stand against us. I remember reading a short quote by Stonewall Jackson, ‘Never take Counsel of your fears’. Elijah had allowed his fears to get the better of him.
The Lord CALLED ELIJAH OUT OF THE CAVE to meet with Him. We have to step out of the darkness of our own caves before we’re able to see in His light. Despite his fears Elijah came out of hiding to see the Lord, God’s revelation of Himself. God knows what we need and if we’re willing to step out He will meet us and give us fresh revelation to enable us to go on.
14 He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’
Elijah presented his case before God, his reason why he couldn’t go on any longer, but God corrected the prophet.
18 ‘Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.’
We should never allow ourselves to think or say that we are alone in facing opposition and trials. God ‘had reserved 7000 for Himself’. God has an army on the earth today and the enemy is very much afraid of that army rising up in power against him and his minions.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail/be victorious against it. Matthew 16
God is not going to lose this war and if we take courage, come out of the darkness of the cave and stand with Him, we can come through to the place of victory with Him. Hallelujah
God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.