I’ve always loved Elijah. His stories are so grandiose and engaging. He gets some of the coolest miracles too (did you know he outran a chariot on foot?)! This story stands out among the bunch though, as it shows us the champion of prophets at his lowest.
Shortly after a crazy victory on mount Carmel, he runs and hides in the wilderness, afraid for his life and feeling like a total failure. He had risked it all, sacrificed so much, and nothing seemed to change. Now his life was on the line. Elijah looked at all he had done, and it seemed like one massive failure.
Then God does something weird (as He does). He shows Elijah a tornado, an earthquake, and a huge fire. What’s even stranger is Elijah’s response- the LORD was not in any of them.
Let’s be clear- these things obviously came from God. Natural disasters don’t just happen like that! And it wasn’t as if God never spoke through these things- Elijah had literally just proved God’s presence through fire that came from heaven (1 Ki 18:38). Yet he somehow knew that while God made these powerhouses of nature, He didn’t inhabit them.
Elijah had an intimate relationship with God. He knew God’s voice and could recognize when God was working through His creation to speak to His people. As he watched these miraculous signs from God, he did not recognize God within them, so he stayed where he was in the cave. When God spoke in a whisper Elijah heard a familiar voice, and he left the cave to follow it.
The rest of the story shows Elijah pouring his heart out to God, and the LORD listens. He encourages Elijah by showing him his work wasn’t in vain. There are seven thousand children of Israel who are still faithful to God (v18). Then He gives Elijah instructions to fulfill the rest of the work God had planned for Him. By going where he could see God moving, Elijah found comfort and guidance when he needed it most, and the LORD revealed the next step of Elijah’s calling.
When you feel like Elijah, worn out and exhausted, feeling frustrated like a failure, look for God. If you know how to recognize His presence and hear His voice, then find where God is revealing Himself. Hear the wisdom of His whispering voice. Then go where you see Him, hear His words, and embrace your destiny in the center of His will. His kind words will bring you comfort and peace. He will help you to know which way to go next. It might not be down an easy road, but it will be a lot better than the shame the world wants to lay on your shoulders. So step out of the safe cave you find yourself in and move towards the place you see His presence at work. His gentle voice will lead you towards hope.
1 Kings 19:9-13
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.