Nowhere to hide

After he was woken the second time, Elijah got up, ate and headed south. For forty days he wandered and eventually he arrived at Horeb. The trip he embarked on was about 200 miles (320 kms) in a straight line and it took Elijah 40 days. Even if he had walked amazingly slowly it would not take 40 days to travel 200 miles so what was he doing on the way? Was he putting off getting to his destination because he thought God would meet him there? Did he just aimlessly wander around, arriving at Horeb by chance? Did he get lost? Or was there some other reason? We can only speculate because the Bible doesn’t reveal any answers, but we do know that 40 is a symbolic number. Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days, the people of Israel wandered for forty years; Moses waited forty years before receiving his commission from God and so on. Whatever the reason for Elijah taking so long to get to his destination, he eventually did and he must have been affected by its significance in Israel’s history.

Horeb, or Mt Sinai is the place where Moses saw the burning bush, where he received the Ten Commandments and was later hidden in the cleft of the rock when the glory of God passed by. It was an immensely significant place and Elijah could not have been ignorant of it. As he climbed to Jebel Musa the peak of Horeb, he must have reflected on all the history of events that took place on this mount, he could not help being reminded of the covenant that God had established with his people and the fact that this was the place that was identified with the dwelling of God. Elijah was running from God and at the end of his journey he found himself in God’s dwelling place, perhaps the most significant geographical location for the people of Israel.

There was no mistake in the directions Elijah took, or the time it took him to get there. The symbolization would not have been lost on him. God orchestrated every step of his way, he reminded him of the wanderings of the people of Israel and he brought him to the place where the covenant was established. Elijah needed to know that God was in control, everything was in his hands – including Elijah’s destiny. Do you need to be reminded that God is in control? Do the events of your life threaten to overwhelm you? Have you walked away from God because you believe that he has let you down or failed you in some way, do you feel that you are wandering aimlessly in the wilderness? Like Elijah you need to be reminded that God is still directing your steps, he knows where you are going and he never leaves your side. He will bring you to the place where you can hear his voice without the distractions of other cares or demands, it may take some time but you will get there. On the way take time to reflect on the power and sovereign grace of God, take note of the memories he brings to your mind and allow them to produce a heart that is open to receive the grace that God has to give.

When Elijah got to the top of the mountain, or at least to the end of his journey, he entered a cave with the intention of lodging there. How long did Elijah intend to stay on the mountain? He had got there after a forty day trip through the desert, he had taken no food with him and there may have not been much available on the mountain top, all he had was what he was carrying. What was he going to do in this cave, it gets cold in the desert, especially at night on top of a mountain, how would he survive? As is often the case the bible is silent about the details and we are left to speculate. What we do know however is that Elijah intended to stay for a while.

As Elijah moved into the cave, perhaps as he wrapped his cloak around him and prepared himself for sleep, or maybe in the middle of some impassioned season of prayer, the word of God came to him. I wonder whether Elijah had thought he would never hear that voice again, did he think that he had run from the sound of God’s voice or that he had offended him so that he would never speak again. Whatever the case Elijah heard God’s voice. Here was Elijah, in a cave miles from where he should have been, feeling sorry for himself, consumed with his own feelings of inadequacy and failure, maybe even blaming God for the unfairness of it all and getting angry at him for allowing things to go so horribly wrong and then the voice of God came to him.

Things never get so bad that God turns his back on his children. No matter what the circumstances or the events that have brought us to the place we are in God still speaks. Elijah might have had good reason for believing that God didn’t want to talk to him anymore. He had run from him, left his post and apparently failed in his ministry. He even hoped for his own death and had complained bitterly to God about the things that had happened to him. He was ministered to by an angel but hadn’t displayed any particular gratitude and had in fact needed to be told twice to get out of bed! Now here he was in a cave, wrapped up in himself with no definite plans in mind. But the voice of God came to him.

You may have got to a place in your life when you have just about given up. You have tried as hard as you know how to do what you think God wants, but now you have had enough, and so you have turned your back on him, run off into your own personal cave and hidden there. You may be tired, worn out, disillusioned, fed up, frustrated or whatever, you might believe your have been let down by your friends, colleagues and God and you have decided enough is enough you are just not going to do it anymore. If this describes you and you are sitting in a cave of your own making somewhere out of sight, then you had better open your ears because God is not done with you yet. Listen because the word of God will surely come to you.

A night visitor

Having run from Jezreel in fear of his life Elijah. He got as far as Beersheba, left his servant and kept going. At the end of the day he lay down under a Broom tree and fell asleep. Sometime in the night an angel visited him.

There is no indication that Elijah knew what he was going to do or where he was going, he just knew that he didn’t want to be in Samaria. He had had enough, he was tired, disillusioned and fed up, he didn’t want to be a prophet anymore, he just wanted to run away. Given what appears to be Elijah’s act of disobedience it would not be unreasonable to imagine that the first time he encountered God he would expect to be accused, punished or at least admonished. But in fact his first heavenly visitor was an angel sent by God to give him food and drink.

While Elijah slept an angel came to him, touched him and woke with the words ‘Arise and eat’. As Elijah sat up he found hot cakes and water. It seems that Elijah didn’t even get up, but he sat where he was had a little food and some water and went back to sleep. No doubt Elijah was exhausted but it does seem reasonable that if an angel wakes you in the middle of the night and tells you to get up, then you will do as suggested! In any event Elijah didn’t. Once again God did not come and chastise or punish him but he again sent the angel, this time he gave the instruction to arise and eat but added that he had a journey in front of him and he would need to food to keep him going. This time Elijah got up.

Twice an angel came to Elijah with a message from God. The first time Elijah enjoyed the blessings he had been provided but ignored the instruction to ‘arise’ the second time he enjoyed the blessing and obeyed! Such is the mercy and grace of God that instead of punishing Elijah’s disobedience in running away, he met him at his place of need. And even then when it seems that Elijah was still unwilling to get back on track he ministered to him. Too often it seems that we have the opinion that when we fail God in some way or turn away from his will from us God is waiting to punish or admonish us. The truth is God is our heavenly father who is well aware of our weakness and while it grieves him when we make decisions that result in moving out of his will his first concern is for our welfare. Human parents are often frustrated by what at times seems to be the willful disobedience of our children, but when children suffer or come to harm those same parents are usually the first to run to their assistance. If this is true of us as mere humans, how much would it be so of our Father in Heaven? Elijah had disobeyed and was now sleeping under a bush in the desert, he was suffering from the result of the choices he made, but rather than come and punish him God met his need. He knew that Elijah needed sleep and food and he graciously allowed him to have these things. Not only that, but twice he came to him, he overlooked the fact that the first time he told Elijah to get up he didn’t, he simply restated the instruction.

On occasion you may find yourself running from God or at least feeling sorry for yourself and sulking under a tree somewhere as far from where you think God is that you can be. Even there he will find you, and he will do so because he loves you and he wants to set you back on your feet. God will not come with accusation or harsh words; he will send his angels to minister to you at your place of need. God’s greatest desire is to re-establish you in the plans he has for you, he will send his angels to assist you to get back on track. If you feel far from God, if you have run from him in disappointment then allow his angels to meet your needs and when they tell you to get up then listen to what they say because there is a long journey ahead of you!

I don’t know what was in the food the angel gave to Elijah but it must have been some meal. He was able to travel in the strength of that food for forty days and nights! The Bible doesn’t state whether Elijah had discussed his destination with God, but it is evident that God knew where he was going because the angel told Elijah that he had a long journey ahead of him. The fact is that even when we think we are running away from God he knows exactly where we are going and when we will get there. God is never taken by surprise, the psalmist writes that even though we go to the ends of the earth, God is there, if we were to take ‘the wings of the morning, and dwell in the innermost parts of the sea, even there your right hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me’ (Psalm 139:9). Elijah may have thought his destination was hidden from God, but it wasn’t. He may have thought that he was on his own, but he wasn’t. God was with him every step of the way.

Why did he run?

What would cause a man of undoubted courage and strength a man of prayer and obedience to desert his post? Why would Elijah listen to the threat of Queen Jezebel and run for his life?

There are no doubt a number of factors that led Elijah to take the course that he did. The first had to do with his physical condition. Elijah was exhausted. His physical and nervous resources had run out. In a short time he had endured a harrowing contest on the mountain, maintained a lengthy prayer vigil and then ran 30 kms to Jezreel only to be greeted with the news that he was under a sentence of death. Instead of experiencing victory and elation he was met with profound disappointment, disillusion and distress. He was under stress and at the end of his rope. He had gone as far as he could, he had had enough. Even though all of Elijah’s experiences had ended in victory they had taken their toll, his emotional energy was spent, he had nothing left to give.

There was no doubt a spiritual dimension to Elijah’s state of mind but his problems were first of all physical. He had over-reached himself and was burnt out. How can this be? How is it possible that a person is totally committed to doing God’s will and being obedient to him could be burnt out? Didn’t God promise to sustain and keep those who are entirely dependent on him? Well yes God did make that promise and yes it is still possible for Christians to become burnt out! Burn out is not necessarily the result of sin or disobedience and isn’t always caused by doing things in your own strength rather than in God’s, although all of these things can result in physical and spiritual exhaustion. It is more likely that we become burnt out when we have failed to attend to our physical nature. It is probable that what Elijah needed more than anything else was rest and recovery.

God has blessed us with a physical as well as a spiritual nature and he intends that we pay attention to both. In fact he commanded that we set one day aside each week to rest and called it a Sabbath, a day when we set ourselves apart from the cares of the world and commit ourselves entirely to him and our own refreshment. Too often these times of rest are ignored in our drive to do things that we believe God is calling us to do. We must always remember that God does not violate his own principles and if he has decreed that we take time to rest, then he means that we should. He will not give us such a work load that those seasons of rest become impossible to take.

Depression is often exacerbated by physical and emotional tiredness. And while we look for spiritual answers to our needs we can relieve some of our burden by paying attention to matters of sleep, diet and exercise. It is usually the case that when we are tired, stressed or carrying a burden that we fail to pay attention to our physical bodies. We don’t eat properly, fail to exercise or get sufficient rest. While these things may not resolve any underlying problem that we are dealing with they will give us the physical and emotional reserves that we need. The answer to spiritual inertia is not to try harder, get more organized or busier, it is more often to take to rest, get some sleep, attend to our diet and start exercise.

Do you feel a bit like Elijah, tired, worn out and disillusioned? Instead of taking off for the desert, try doing an inventory of your physical life. And if you find that you are not paying sufficient attention to the body God has given you then starting with a proper season of rest, make a commitment to the changes you need to make to your patterns of sleep, diet and exercise.

Another element that may have had led to Elijah’s flight to the desert was loneliness. It does not seem that he had someone he could confide in or look to for support, there was no one to chat to, no family to return to at the end of the day. Elijah had nobody to share his pain, his victories, his triumphs or his failures with. Yes he had God and obviously enjoyed a good relationship with him, but there was no other human person he could share his hope, dreams and aspirations with. Elijah was a long way from home and was in a solo ministry.

Christian ministry is often lonely. People involved in counseling others seldom take the time to develop close relationships or to receive counsel themselves. They often get so used to giving advice that they do not make close friends, people can be put off when others are continually trying to assist them with their problems! Not everybody understands the call God has put on your life. Some may even question your motives or challenge the commitment you make. And it is a fact that we are not called to be men pleasers, but rather pleasers of God. The road this leads you down can often be a lonely one.

High achievers can also be lonely. Some people avoid the successful out of jealousy or even under the mistaken assumption that they are too important to be troubled by those that are not as capable. Many ‘celebrities’ or high achievers have commented on being lonely even though they are enormously famous and popular. People who achieve great things are often the loneliest of them all and the greater their achievements the greater the magnitude of their fall, if it comes. Some malicious types delight in the failure of others almost hoping that they will fall, while still others  maintain their distance from the wounded person feeling that they have nothing to offer or contribute.

When Elijah needed comfort and support there was no one there to turn to. So he headed for the desert, he retreated into himself. Where was the fellow traveler, the person that Elijah could confide in, who would pick him up when he was down? Who could share Elijah’s pain and frustration, who would weep with him, laugh with him or just remain silent and bear his grief? Elijah did not have this person in his life, he was alone.

If you are engaged in God’s business, as I hope you are, be certain to take the time to maintain supportive relationships. In short make friends with people you like. Spend time together, listen to one another, challenge each other, enjoy one another’s company. Don’t become so busy with what you are doing that you fail to take time for relationships. Make the effort, it’s essential to your spiritual health.

The drought breaks!

The drought was over! The rain was coming, the prophets of Baal were dead and the people had turned back to God. Elijah was so excited that he ran all the way to Jezreel, even outpacing the chariots of Ahab. What did he expect to see when he got there? Was Ahab going to get rid of the prophets of Asherah, take spiritual leadership in the land and in his own home and bring Jezebel into line? Would Elijah be received in style, welcomed as a hero and thanked for his hard work and persistence. Would Ahab repent and lead his people in the ways of God?

The answer to all of these questions is a resounding ‘no’! Ahab was concerned about his material needs not the things of God. He couldn’t wait to tell Jezebel all about the things that happened and what Elijah had done, and Jezebel saw red! Ahab had given up the leadership in his own house; it was Jezebel who called the shots. She immediately issued a threat against Elijah. The next she saw him she would kill him. Her plan was to drive him away, reduce his threat to her position and power.

What was Elijah’s response? A threat of a mere woman, a heathen at that, surely recent events would suggest that he would stay calm in the face of this threat. After all wasn’t she part of the same court that he had boldly addressed three years previously? Hadn’t God protected him in the desert, at Zarephath and at Mt Carmel? Obviously the God who protected him there would do so now. But Elijah didn’t respond with that assurance, he was afraid and he ran for his life! What a contrast to his previous behaviour. He didn’t wait for the word of God to come – he was off. He fled to the southernmost town in Israel, Beersheba, a town belonging to the tribe of Judah, the only tribe that had remained faithful to God, one that was safe from the clutches and influence of Jezebel. But he didn’t stop there; he went into the desert as far as Mt Horeb.

Why did Elijah run? Had God’s plans failed? Had Elijah assumed that the events on Mt Carmel would change everything and since they hadn’t did he consider himself a failure? Elijah had committed himself to God’s work; everything he had done was at God’s command and yet everything he had striven for had come to nothing. Things got worse instead of better. Ahab didn’t repent; he went back to his old ways as fast as he possibly could. Elijah was confronted with what appeared to be the failure of his own ministry. The courage that had stood him in good stead in the past now failed him; his sense of certainty at being exactly where God wanted him to be was gone along with his confidence. So he ran.

Have you ever felt like Elijah – done whatever God has told you to do, pushed yourself to the limit and beyond, put yourself out on a limb, only to have it cut off behind you? You have selflessly served others, suffered personal hardship and discomfort but instead of getting recognition and thanks you have been rejected or ignored and perhaps even falsely criticized and accused. It would not be surprising if this has been your experience; it has certainly been mine. The question is: how did you respond? Did you, like Elijah, head for the desert with your tail between your legs or did you wait to hear from God and when you heard move forward one more time? Elijah had reasons for reacting the way that he did, but there is no evidence to suggest that his behaviour was the result of obedience to God’s command. How have you responded when the reaction you received to your ministry was not what you expected?

At the time when Elijah was most needed he went missing. Perhaps if he had stayed those silent followers of God like Obadiah might have summoned up the courage to take a stand, maybe the people would have put their newfound worship of God into practice – but he didn’t. He took his servant and he headed south. For nearly 200 kilometres he headed toward the desert, this time not through a drought, but through a storm.

What was going through his mind as he ran? Was he questioning God, did he ask why? Why had God brought him to this place – he had been totally obedient but his mission had failed and his life was threatened. Instead of a victor’s reward he received a death threat. Why God – why did you let this happen? Elijah got to Beersheba and left his servant there, then he traveled a further day’s journey into the desert sat under a tree and complained. ‘Take my life, what use is anyway? Kill me now. I’m no better than all the other prophets, nobody listened to them and they don’t listen to me. They failed and so did I. Take my life now – I can’t face it anymore’.  Elijah was in a bad way, he was miserable, depressed and felt completely useless. But he didn’t need to go into the desert to die, Jezebel could have accommodated his request right there in Jezreel! He probably hoped against hope that God would reassure him and tell him that all was not lost and there was some greater plan that he didn’t yet know about and he, Elijah, was going to be mightily used in bringing it to pass. But God was silent.

The courage, confidence and sense of purpose that had led Elijah to Mt Carmel had gone. He was depressed. He had reached the end of his tether. He had fled from Jezreel, he had not waited on a word from God, but taking his servant he took off. This time there was no brook, no ravens to feed him, no widow’s home to rest in, no one to minister to or to receive ministry from, he was alone. And he wanted it that way. He didn’t even want the company of his servant, but left him behind as he went further into the desert and into his own misery. Elijah kept plodding on, possibly without any sense of where he was going or why he was going there and when his strength finally gave out he collapsed under a bush and cried out to God to take his life. This time this mighty man of prayer failed to get the answer he wanted.

Life is full of ‘what if’s’. If Elijah had stayed in Jezreel what would have happened? If he had waited to hear from God, if he had challenged Jezebel what would have been the result? If God had answered his prayer and taken his life in the desert would things have been different? Of course we don’t know the answer to these questions and we can probably look back on the events in our own lives and ask similar questions. What if I had made this or that choice, what if I had studied harder and gone to university, what if I had had traveled more, or prayed more, or accepted that opportunity to preach or share my testimony. Unfortunately, like Elijah, we may never know the answer to those questions and it is therefore essential that whenever we are called upon to make a decision that we wait until we hear from God. Elijah acted out of fear and disappointment, not faith or obedience. He may have missed the opportunity to bring about a revival in Jezreel because he didn’t wait to hear from God.

Be sure that as you confront the choices that come your way that you are not afflicted with the ‘if only’ condition that limits your response to the way you feel and the resources you have available. Remember that if God calls you he will provide for you and will also protect you. Don’t look back with disappointment and say ‘if only’ or ‘what if’. Listen for the voice of God and when he speaks courageously take him at his word and move in the strength that he will provide.

Just a little Cloud

While Elijah crouched in prayer on the mountain his view was restricted so he told his servant to go a little higher so that he could see the sea. After he had been praying for a little while he told his servant to go up and look to see whether the rain was coming. The servant went up but when he returned he had nothing to report. What happened? Were Elijah’s prayers ignored, had God not answered?

Elijah prayed some more and then sent his servant again. Again he came back and again he had nothing to report, no rain, no clouds nothing. But hadn’t Elijah said he had heard a storm approaching? Didn’t he tell Ahab to go and refresh himself because there was rain coming? Once again Elijah prayed and once again, a third time he sent his servant. But his servant still had nothing to report. Surely there was something wrong, maybe Elijah wasn’t praying right, perhaps he had overlooked something, where was the rain? Six times Elijah sent his servant up the mountain to examine the sky over the ocean, and six times he returned with the same answer ‘there is nothing’. Each time he went involved a trip up the mountainside and back, the servant may have started with optimism but after the sixth his enthusiasm must have been waning. Elijah himself had not moved and if his prayers had been fervent before, surely they were desperate now. Still he said to his servant go up once more. This time he came back with a different report. ‘I see a cloud, but it’s very small, about the size of my fist, and it’s coming up over the sea’. That was enough! This was what Elijah was waiting for - the rain was coming.

The servant may have wanted more evidence, actual rain perhaps or at least some wind. Even better if he could have a little thunder and lightning. But Elijah did not wait for that; he did not despise small beginnings. A little cloud a long way off was enough. Elijah had prayed and God had answered; now once again action was required. It was God that initiated Elijah’s prayer and it was his desire that Elijah should keep praying until the answer came. For his part Elijah was prepared to remain in prayer until he saw the evidence of God’s answer and when he saw it he responded in faith. Too often we call on God to do his will and diligently pray, but when the answer comes we are unconvinced. Rather than act in faith we want to wait until all of our conditions have been met. Rather than act when we see the approaching cloud, even when it is very small, we don’t move until the thunderstorm is upon us.

Now it was time to get up. The time of waiting was over, ‘go’ he told his servant ‘and tell Ahab to get his chariot organized before the rain comes and he gets bogged in the mud’. There is a time when we must respond in faith to the evidence of answered prayer. If Elijah had waited for the rain to come, Ahab would have become stuck in the mud and God’s plans would have been delayed. Every great movement of God starts with a small beginning, a little cloud that appears to be a long way off. It may come as we are praying, but are we praying with expectation? Do we keep looking for the answer, not surprised when it comes but eagerly waiting? Elijah knew the rain would come and he was going to pray until it did. When the cloud appeared he was ready, he knew what he was going to do next and he did it. When the small cloud appears on the horizon, get up and act. Don’t get caught sleeping when the rain comes – otherwise you might get caught in the mud!

The prayers of Elijah were definite. These were no wishy-washy, half-baked wishes but specific requests. He watched for the answer to his prayers because he knew exactly what he was asking for. Elijah was specific, as he bowed to the ground on Mount Carmel he prayed for rain – nothing else would do. When he called on God at the altar he needed fire. In the home at Zarephath he needed a boy brought back from the dead. He made specific requests and he got specific answers. How specific are your prayers? Are they so vague that almost any answer will do, or do you tell God exactly what it is that you are asking for and watch until you get it? Elijah did and his prayers were answered.

Elijah was serious about his prayers but he was also expectant. On Mount Carmel, seven times he sent his servant in anticipation of an answer and six times he came back with nothing to report, but the seventh time he announced the presence of a cloud. When Elijah engaged the prophets of Baal before the altar he had backed himself into a corner – God had to answer. But Elijah was in no doubt, he could pray expectantly. At the foot of the mountain Elijah told Ahab that he heard the sound of rain, he didn’t hope – he knew that God would answer his prayer.

When he was at the widow’s home Elijah prayed three times before his request was granted, but on Mount Carmel he sent his servant seven times to look for the answer. He didn’t give up, he persisted. His persistent nature is reflected in his obedience. He stayed at Brook Cherith until God told him to go. He remained at Zarephath until he was instructed to leave and on Mount Carmel he remained crouched until the cloud appeared. He persevered, he knew God would answer in his time, at the right time, and he was not surprised when the answer came. How often do we fail to see the answers to our prayers because we give up too soon? Have we prayed for someone’s healing but when we don’t see an instant response do we give up or move on? Have we made petitions for our communities, schools or young people but given up when things haven’t changed? This wasn’t the way Elijah prayed, he kept at it until the answer came.

How do your prayers compare with those of Elijah? His were based on the promises of God, they were definite and he prayed seriously and with expectation. There was no doubt with Elijah he knew that he was doing God’s will and in order for that will to be completed certain things had to happen. All Elijah had to do was to pray them into being. Why don’t you examine the prayers you have offered this week and see how they stack up? Remember prayer is God’s idea; he invites you to pray so that you can join him in seeing his will accomplished on earth as it is in heaven.

The Sound of Rain

The contest on Mt Carmel was over, Elijah and those that had turned back to God were surrounded by the evidence of the slaughter that had just taken place No doubt Elijah was covered in the blood of the false prophets and the smell of death would have been in the air. Ahab was also there, perhaps an unwilling bystander, and maybe some distance away – but he was there. How did Ahab feel about the slaughter that had taken place, had he given his approval or had he stood by powerless to stop what was happening. Elijah had momentum; the crowd was on his side and once the slaughter began it is unlikely that any one could have stopped it.

Once the carnage was over Elijah told Ahab that he heard the sound of a storm approaching and he should go back up the mountain to eat and drink. Was Elijah speaking prophetically? Had anyone else heard the storm approaching? This is unlikely given the events that were to unfold, but whatever the case Ahab either believed him or was just glad to be away from this scene of brutality.

The conditions had been met, now it would rain. Elijah knew it and perhaps he even heard it, the crowd and Ahab didn’t. Surely if Ahab believed the rain was coming or that he had things he needed to deal with he would have set off for Samaria immediately. But he did not, he went and ate and drank just as if nothing had changed. God in his mercy often gives demonstrations of his power that are intended to gain your attention and change the course of your life, what has been your response? Has it been to take it in your stride and carry on as though nothing had happened, or have you taken stock, made a choice and moved in God’s direction?

Elijah and Ahab went back up the mountain. It is unlikely that they traveled together; Elijah went alone, or with his servant while Ahab went with his entourage. Ahab went to eat and drink; Elijah went to pray. Elijah went in the power of God; Ahab went in the strength of his own importance. The contrast is stark. Elijah was the prophet who had come at God’s command to restore worship to Israel and destroy the false prophets; Ahab was the King who by his marriage to Jezebel and his own weakness had led the people into false worship and sin. Ahab’s sin had brought the drought; Elijah’s righteousness would end it. Both had witnessed the dramatic power of God, one was anticipating the hand of God at work while the other concerned himself with food and drink.

At the top of the mountain Ahab retired to his tent where he relaxed and refreshed himself. What was on his mind, did he expect the rain to come, was he planning how he would explain things back at the palace, or was he unconcerned at all that he had seen, we can only speculate. On the other hand there is no doubt about what was going on in Elijah’s mind. He went some distance away and crouched down with his head between his knees and prayed. The contrast between the two men is once more revealed: one in comfort and rest enjoying refreshments in the face of a crisis while the other in desperation, humbly calling on his God to answer the need.

When we are faced with crisis how do we respond? Are we like Ahab carrying on as if there is nothing we can do, or untouched by the pain being suffered by those around us, or like Elijah do we throw ourselves at God’s mercy desperately calling on him to intervene. In the face of international crisis how does the church respond? We are surrounded by famine, drought, war and tragedy, what is our response? Will we meet for worship on Sunday as if all is right with the world, singing and laughing and enjoying fellowship, or will we be found on our knees, faces to the ground crying out to God? It is easy to look at Ahab and criticize him for his behaviour, wasn’t there something he could do, couldn’t he repent and lead the people back to God? Was it reasonable for him to spend time in rest and relaxation enjoying the benefits of his position while the people around him suffered? But the criticisms we make of Ahab could easily be leveled at the western church and we as individuals. In the face of the tragedy that our communities suffer with crime and drug epidemics, the increasing abortion and suicide rates and breakdowns in marriage and families isn’t there something we can do? As we see those in  Bangladesh or Somalia dying through lack of food, or women and children killed by acts of terrorism in Nigeria or Afghanistan is it reasonable for us to live as if there is nothing we can do?

Elijah had done all that he could; now it was in God’s hands alone. He had set the scene, prepared the way, all at God’s command, now he needed him to do the rest. And until God fulfilled his word Elijah was going to pray. He took himself aside, he bowed to the ground and he prayed. He prayed until the answer came, he had done everything practically that he could, but he could still pray. There will be times when we have done all we can, practically, but the solution has not come. Then we must pray. It is not time to eat and drink and refresh ourselves. It is not time to take our rest; it is time to pray. If there is need around you and if you are waiting for God to provide the miracle that will bring relief then it is time to come apart and pray.

Finishing the Job

The contest was over on Mt Carmel, or was it? Once fire fell in response to Elijah’s prayer the people responded by acknowledging God. But the job wasn’t finished. At Elijah’s command the people who had just been overawed by the demonstration of God’s power and glory were commanded to seize the false prophets. None were to escape, every one of them was to be taken and held. Once this was done Elijah commanded that they be taken down the mountain to the Brook Kishon where he, or others acting on his behalf slaughtered them. The Bible could have said they were put to death, or even executed but it doesn’t it says these people were slaughtered. This was a savage display of brutality, no mercy was given and no excuses were considered. The false prophets were slaughtered.

These men had led Israel into sin; they had deliberately contrived to lead the people away from God. They had to be destroyed. It was not enough for them to be deposed from power or shown up to be the frauds they were, they had to be removed. There may be things in your life that have led you astray. There may be habits, or misplaced priorities, perhaps even attitudes and bitterness. If these things exist and are causing you to leave the altar of true faith and follow after the false illusion of religious activity then they need to be slaughtered. There is no place for neat surgical excision, they must be butchered. What is true of us as individuals is certainly equally true of the congregations to which we belong. While I do not want to suggest that the church of God in all of its expressions is following after false prophets there is no question that much of the church in the west has been seduced away from the truth and into the trap of the world.

In those areas of the world where the church is growing it is characterized by passion, sincerity and truth. Worship in these congregations is vital and genuine but it results in changed lives and demonstrations of righteousness. Where the church struggles to maintain its existence it is characterized by compromise, mediocrity and lethargy. The false prophets of this world try to convince us that the evidence of success includes the size of our congregation, the adequacy or beauty of our buildings and the size of our budget. Too often we are seduced into comparisons between churches on the basis of these things. Seldom do we hear of churches that are famous for their passion or zeal for righteousness. If the measure of our success is determined by the size of our congregation then we can justify the money we spend on making our buildings looking good, or the superiority of our sight and sound systems. We can preach sermons that are inoffensive or at least are calculated to make the hearers feel good when they leave – after all we wouldn’t want them to stay away because they are offended would we?

In our personal lives we are encouraged to fulfil our potential, to make sure that we don’t deny ourselves any pleasure or gratification. It’s all very well to be a Christian, but let’s not get carried away. Not too much religious zeal or enthusiasm. No need to study the bible yourself, there are plenty of commentaries out there – and they are quite inexpensive too. Just stay in the middle of the road, don’t get too hot, or too cold – wait a minute doesn’t that make us lukewarm? And don’t lukewarm Christians and churches make God sick?

Once the fire of God falls sin will become obvious and those things and people that have led us astray will become obvious. When they are, they must be slaughtered, no excuses, no rationalizations. Those sins, habits and attitudes must be pulled out by the root and destroyed. Wait until God reveals them and then act with ruthlessness, only then can we be sure that the fire will remain.