WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke 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. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And the LORD said to him, “Go… —I kings 19:3-15
Are you fearful? Are you running away from what God wants you to do? Are you isolating yourself? Are you discourage and depressed? Do you feel like you are alone in the battle? Do you feel like giving up and asking God just to let you die? Is all you want to do is lay down and sleep?
Praise God that He does not give up on us when we are in that state! He extends His grace to us to strengthen us and He is persistent at it. He provides us with the strength to go on even if we are going in the wrong direction. He sustains us and brings us to a point where we will listen. Are you there yet? Are you listening?
Elijah fled 40 days away to a cave on Mount Horeb. This “Mountain of God” is the same place that God spoke to Moses “from within the burning bush” (Exodus 3:4) after being in the wilderness tending sheep for 40 years. Now after 40 days running to this mountain cave the Lord God asks Elijah twice— “What are you doing here?” Elijah’s response is the same both times— “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
Elijah felt very isolated because he did not have all the facts and he lost focus on Who He was serving. God was still in control and God still had His people. Elijah was far from alone. With renewed vision God told him to go and to continue to serve Him as He guided him. Elijah obeyed the Lord God Almighty.
“What are you doing here?” Where does the Lord want you to be? Then go because whatever the circumstances are that can be discouraging to you, well, God is much bigger than them. Trust Him! Go!
Dear Father, please help me to be what You desire and to do what You desire. Help me to listen and obey in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. So be it!