"Come Out of Your Cave!"

Please read 1 Kings 19

Elijah was a chosen prophet of God. God used Elijah to serve Him in extraordinary ways. In 1 Kings 19 Elijah slaughtered 300 of Baal's prophets. These were the prophets who performed idol worship under the authority of Jezebel (King Ahab's wife). When she heard how Elijah slaughtered the 300 prophets, she sent a message to Elijah and said, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one one of them by tomorrow.." (1Kings 19:2). When Elijah received the message from Jezebel he ran. Now the man of God (Elijah) is running from an ungodly woman (Jezebel). (That's another topic for discussion).

Question: Why did Elijah run? Did Elijah forget that He served a All-Knowing and All-Powerful God? Didn't he witness God's power over Jezebel's pagan prophets and gods? And then I had to ask myself, "Sandra, why are you running?" IF God has proven over and over, time after time, day after day that He is the All-Knowing and All-Powerful God, why are we running? To answer the question, we have to know what we are running from.

Elijah went to a cave and stayed there (1 Kings 19:9). And while he's in the cave the "LORD came to him, and He said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" The LORD didn't ask because He didn't know the answer, but the LORD was helping Elijah reassess his position and his understanding of who HE was so that he would get back to God's business. IF Elijah could reflect on his understanding of the LORD, he would gain enough strength to get back in the game. Elijah had slipped into a state of depression and sadness. These are the words of Elijah to the LORD in his self-pity state of mind, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsake Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away" (1 Kings 19:10). Elijah felt like he was the only God-fearing prophet who desired to do the work of the Lord. That's the problem with isolation without proper inspiration. When we isolate ourselves without proper inspiration of God's wisdom, we will feel like we are on a island all by our lonely self. The next phase is depression, then self-reliance, then suicide (physical, mental and spiritual).

The LORD came to Elijah in several ways: 1) in a great strong wind, 2) in an earthquake, 3) in a fire. But when the LORD came to Elijah in the blowing of a "gentle wind and still small voice" Elijah wrapped himself in his mantle and stood at the entrance of the cave. It was only then that God gave instructions: "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus....."

Have you ran into a cave and pitched a tent? Who or what have you allowed to freak you out and cause you to run from the very thing that God called you to do? Come out of your cave, Woman of God! God is asking you "What in the world are you doing here?" Come out of your cave and get back in the game of saving souls. You got your instructions. Now, come out and run for the LORD!

For His Glory....

Written by Sandra Kelley 1/27/2024