1 Kings 19:9, 13 (NRSV)
Read 1 Kings 19:9, 13 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 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?"
Devotion
Eugene Peterson translates Elijah's response to God in v. 10 and 14, "I've been working my heart out...I am the only one left." This once-puffed-up prophet is no longer proud, having to flee the threats of Jezebel, that woman king of ill-repute. Elijah has given up and marked his life as good as dead. But God has not given up on Elijah. Elijah expected God to show up in force when Jezebel threatened his life. Elijah expected God to show up in the wind, earthquake and fire, those being some of God's chief ways of being known. But God shows up in sheer silence, as if to say to Elijah and to us, I have been in it all, all along. In expected ways and in unexpected ways, God is with you and still calls you to continue on your way. God is not done with you yet.
Prayer
God of silence, God the Word, you call us from death to life, from fear to faith, from ends to beginnings Grant courage to continue on our way and faith to trust that there is no place we go that you have not already been.
Amen.