1 Kings 19: 9-18 (NRSV)
Read 1 Kings 19: 9-18 on biblegateway.com
Verse 9At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Verse 10He answered, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." Verse 11He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces 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; Verse 12and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. Verse 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Verse 14He answered, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." Verse 15Then the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Verse 16Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Verse 17Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. Verse 18Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
Devotion
“Don’t shoot the messenger!”
Elijah was probably thinking that very thought as he climbed the side of Mt. Horeb, looking for a rock to curl up under and die.
41 days prior, Elijah had performed one of the greatest miracles of his ministry, calling down fire from Heaven to burn up a soggy offering. He hoped that this demonstration of God’s power would have finally turned peoples’ hearts to God, but it didn’t. Like Pharaoh’s heart being successively hardened after each plague, Jezebel’s prophets’ defeat just fueled her rage against God, causing her to lash out at the messenger, calling for his death.
Elijah was understandably disheartened and his reaction was to run and hide. If you’ve ever felt defeated and afraid, remember it happens to the best of us at times. But remember there is no place you can hide where God isn’t already, so come out of your cave and receive God’s grace.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, save us from our enemies and the destructive forces of this broken world so that we can live in peace and serve you in faithfulness. Amen.