The reign of king Ahab with his wife Jezebel, was one of the darkest periods in Israel's history. The time of Ahab's rule over Israel truly was characterized by that verse of Scripture, in Psalm 12:8, which states: "The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted." With Ahab and Jezebel on the throne, the devil was thus able not only to control the government of Israel, but even the religious and cultural life of Israel was profoundly corrupted during that regime. One of the clearest indications of how spiritually dark it was in Israel at that time, is the fact that eight-hundred and fifty of the devil's men preached, unmolested, in just so many 'pulpits' throughout Israel. Meanwhile a relatively small number of godly Jews remained, evidently out of sight. For, even the great prophet Elijah--apparently unaware of that godly remnant, felt himself to be utterly alone, saying, to the Lord: "[T]he 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" (1 Kings 19:14).
Does that situation resemble the present condition of America? Do you not often feel isolated and alone, like Elijah did? Where was God, when Ahab and Jezebel brutally oppressed the people of Israel? Where was God, when Israel's churches were controlled by the prophets of Baal? What was Elijah to do, in the face of such apparent defeat? Well, that's probably just what Elijah wanted to know. Let's take a look at what happened behind the scenes, as revealed in 1 Kings 19:8-18:
And he [Elijah] arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 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? 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. 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: and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 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? 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. 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: 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. 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. 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.
God had forsaken neither Israel nor Elijah--notwithstanding how desperate the circumstances appeared to Elijah. When the "word of the LORD came" to Elijah, who was 'lodged' (stuck) in the cave, God didn't seek to console Elijah's concerns with sympathetic platitudes. Instead, God asked the prophet, "What are you doing here?" Elijah answered by complaining to God about his lonely and frustrating situation.
God then told him to "stand upon the mount before the LORD." Suddenly, a terrific wind literally tore rocks from the mountainside; then, an earthquake shook the ground where Elijah stood; last, came forth a fire as if from the very atmosphere: but God was not in any of those phenomena. Lately, many are being deceived by a plethora of supernatural occurrences, especially, among a vast number of churches across America. Yet, God is not in ANY of those paranormal manifestations. Then, where was God? Where is God, today?
"[A]nd after the fire a still small voice." God was in His word, which--in contrast to the commotion and noise stirred up by those fantastic displays happening all around him at the time, God's voice seemed to Elijah as both "still" and "small". If we are going to hear God speaking anything to us, in the midst of such chaos and confusion as the devil tries to distract us with, we are going to have to shut our eyes and ears to the staged performances in churches, and to the theatrics and wizardry practiced by so many would-be prophets, all of which is being served up (by the devil) in the name of Christ, for popular consumption.
When Elijah heard God's voice, the prophet approached God, with his face covered. Humility. Reverence. There is the right way to draw nigh unto God. What did God have to say about things? God had a plan--of ACTION. Twice, God put the question to the man of God: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" "What are you doing here?" "Go..."
"Go...where, Lord?"
"Go--to the Jordan River. Spend time with John. Kindle a fire in his spirit, Elijah! Encourage him to take a bold stand for the truth--though Israel shall not then have seen a prophet in over 400 years. And tell John, I'm coming, soon...."
"Then, Go--to the Mount of Transfiguration. I'll meet with you and Moses, there. I want my ministers, in every Age, to see my glory and my power, and to know that I will send with them that same Spirit which rests upon you, Elijah; and that I'm not done sending...."
"Go! Go--to the end of the Church Age! Stand before my chosen and encourage them to stand in the midst of the fire and the darkness of that awful time. Remind them how that Ahab, and Jezebel, and all the devil's preachers came to their end, suddenly. And do you remember, too, Elijah, how that you felt all alone? Tell them, they are not alone! that I am in control; not Ahab; not Obama; not Satan. Instruct them not to go looking for Me amongst the wild goings-on (wind, earthquake, fire) in spiritual 'Babylon', but to be still, and to seek unto Me in my Word."
"Oh, and, Elijah: the Chariot of Fire--and the Whirlwind, how I sent from Heaven for you (I know you can't forget that!). Tell my People I have made a way of escape for them, too. Elijah, O, my Spirit, cry down my Fire in that day! I haven't yet done with you, what I'm now ready to do with my anointed."
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