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At 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?’ He 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.’ He 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; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When 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?’ He 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.’Then 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.Also 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.Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.’ (1 Kings 19:9-18)
We've all been there at one time or another, and pastors especially; right at the corner of Despair and Disappointment. It seems all we have tried and all we have done has been for nought. And that's where the prophet Elijah found himself that day. He had seen a tremendous victory take place over the followers of Baal. Four hundred (400) prophets of that god and followers gathered to see a contest between the Living God (our God) and the false god Baal. God won! But, the fallout from that victory was that the king who believed in Baal and more especially the queen (that mean old Jezebel) wanted Elijah dead. Elijah went to hide. And he first sought refuge under a broom tree, then later in this cave. God came to him and asked what he was doing, and Elijah poured out his heart to God. Then God instructs him to go and stand on this mountain before God and to await His passing by. First, there was a great wind that splits the mountains and broke rocks into pieces. But God was not in the wind. Then an earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake. Then a fire and again, God was not the fire. And after a fire, sheer silence. Then God asks Elijah again, "What are you doing here?" These terrible disasters that can come from nature happen and God is not in them. We may be near them or see what they can do to others, but we are not necessarily harmed by them. Then it may be very quiet and we wonder, where is God? And God speaks, and God is with us.
Elijah then heard his new orders, which he followed. He had the message; God was with him the entire time. Mountains had split and broken up; earthquakes could come and destroy all kinds of things; fire could come and destroy everything, and in the sheer silence that may follow these disasters, God speaks, "I am here." Dear friend, whatever you may be facing today may seem as big and as powerful as any of these natural disasters, but listen closely: God is with you. You are not now or ever alone. Then, move forward and continue to do what God has asked of you in your life. Greater things happen after what we believe to be setbacks or failures. Never give up.
PRAYER: Loving God, as mountains fall and break, and as earthquakes come to shake the ground on which I stand, and as fires sweep through my life, You are with me. I have to listen and be still and I will hear You. Speak to me at Your will and share with me that which I am to do. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Say goodbye to the mountains stopping your forward motion; and enjoy the shaking of the ground. Spit on the fire. God is with you. Then move on!
Eradio Valverde
Prayer Updates: Bethel Lester underwent surgery yesterday morning and is recovering in the hospital. Larry Ehrig had a rough night two nights ago, and Bill Reaves continues to recover in the Seguin hospital. Prayers please for their recovery.
