FROM TISHBE TO HEAVEN
Except for Moses, there is no one greater in the Hebrew Bible... than Elijah. Elijah means Yahweh is my God, and he certainly lived as if Yahweh was his God. Yahweh and Elijah worked several miracles together... and in turn, Elijah enforced God's law wherever he went. According to the Bible, Ahab was the worst king that Israel ever had. He and his wife, Jezebel, gave Israel over to Baal and his consort, Asherah. People worshiped them throughout the land and Elijah was outraged. So the day came when the prophets of Baal challenged Elijah to a contest to prove which God- Yahweh or Baal- was most powerful. It was a quite a scene- 450 pagan prophets against Elijah... but Elijah and God prevailed. The prophets of Baal lost and Elijah had them killed, which outraged Jezebel, who promised to kill Elijah as soon as she could get her hands on him.
Well, the great prophet had been in danger many times during his time, but he had never been directly threatened with death before, and he ran for it! He said that he had had enough and he ran toward Beersheba, which was in Judah, 100 miles away from Jezebel. He ran and fell exhausted. He prayed that God would take his life, but God fed him instead, which gave Elijah the strength to make it all the way Mt. Horeb, where he hid in a cave! Jezebel would never find him in a cave so far away, but God did... and he called Elijah to step outside the entrance to the cave. And as he stood there, a violent wind stirred up. It was frightening, but Elijah didn't encounter God in the wind. Then there was an earthquake, and then a fire. These were ways in which God showed up, but Elijah never heard God's voice. So he went back inside the cave and in the silence that filled the room, he heard God asking him what he was doing in the cave. God didn't chastise him. God knew how many brave things his prophet had done, and he knew that Elijah was finished. So, He gave Elijah three more duties, one of which was 'to go to Elisha and place your mantle on him because he will be your replacement!"
It’s a great story… but what does it have to say to us?
1. 1. Well, for one thing, we are reminded that God is less likely to give up on us than we are to
give up on ourselves.
2 2. Even the best of
us experience moments of fatigue, fear, and even doubt that we are making a
difference. Elijah was a man who made a difference for God. God's people still wait for him... but he was ready to hang up his mantle... and God handled him with compassion.
3. Quit looking for
God in all the wrong places. Chances are, He will not be in the mirror, or even on the 19th hole. Instead, we need to look within ourselves and slso in the people and places where people generally look away;
4. If you want to
hear God’s voice, get away from the sounds that drown it out and listen to your
soul. Are you doing what God wants you to do? Are you in love with sins that
you can’t bring yourself to let go of;
5. I’m no Elijah.
Chances are- you’re not either, but we are equipped to do his work. And we have ears that hear… so listen to the voice within you that challenges you
to forgive and love and get involved for God. Listen to the voices of
those things
that break your heart. Listen to the injustices that make you mad… listen to the talents that God has given you, listen to the people whose lives are
intertwined with yours, and listen when God asks, "What are YOU doing?"
6. Listen in the stillness of your
spirit and you will hear God’s voice calling you to leave your cave and get
busy for Him. His call to you may not be the stuff of Kings and Queens, but it
will involve life-changing and life-saving work. He may not ask you to free
the Israelites, or to challenge the prophets of Baal… but He will ask you to confront evil and love to His people.
7. I won’t be taken directly to heaven like Elijah was,
but through Christ, heaven will be my home. And my record of service will not measure up to Elijah’s, or John’s,
or Mother Teresa’s, or perhaps to yours… but I do long to hear the words, “well
done, good and faithful servant,” and I believe that, through His Grace… I will.
I’ve seen bad moons rising, I’ve heard the thunder
roll, I’ve chased lesser gods to the gates of hell, and I’ve begged an
unknown God for another chance. I've seen and heard many
things... BUT I didn’t see God in the storms or in my wilderness. Indeed, I didn’t hear God at all until I
experienced a great emptiness and heard him telling me to get up, get well, and get involved!
