What Are You Doing Here?

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So, Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. (1 Kings 19:1-3, NIV 1984).

My Musings – We are a strange lot, we humans. Here is Elijah literally coming off a mountaintop (Mt. Carmel) experience with his God. Standing up to King Ahab, 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. Not to mention the “so-called gods” they represented. Yet after receiving the threat from Queen Jezebel, he fled in fear. Granted, he believed he was the only prophet of God left, but he had just been part of an extraordinary display of God’s power and protection. “‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.” (1 Kings 19:4-5, NIV 1984).

Then “the word of the Lord came to him: ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken 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.'” (1 Kings 19:9-10, NIV 1984). How would you expect the Lord to respond?

Powerful Wind – In a “a great and powerful wind [that] tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks? [No], the Lord was not in the wind.” (1 Kings 19:11a, NIV 1984).

Earthquake – Perhaps “an earthquake? [No] the Lord was not in the earthquake.” (1 Kings 19:11b, NIV 1984).

Fire – How about in “fire?” [No], the Lord was not in the fire. (1 Kings 19:12a, NIV 1984).

Earth, wind, and fire? These are probably the ways we might react. But God is not like man. He does the unexpected. If you really want to catch someone’s attention, whisper. Not merely a whisper, but a “a gentle whisper, [asking]”‘what are you doing here, Elijah? Go back the way you came.” [You are not the only one left]. I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:12b, 15, 18. NIV 1984).

My Advice – “What are you doing here?” Not too unlike God’s question of Adam, “where are you?“ He knew where Adam was, and He knew what Elijah was doing there. Neither were where they should be. Adam was doing what he shouldn’t be doing. Elijah was not doing what he should be doing. God wanted them to acknowledge (confess) that. God wanted them where they should be (repent, or turnaround) and doing what they should be doing (obeying and serving).

Have you wandered away from where God wants you? “Get back to where you once belonged.” “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5:7, NIV 1984). What kind of race are you running?

Not running a good race – “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” (Galatians 5:19-21, NIV 1984).

Running a good race – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV 1984).

“All the runners run, but only one gets the prize.” (1 Corinthians 1:25, NIV 1984). So, “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [you] heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14, NIV 1984). Don’t make God “shout” using earth, wind or fire. Respond to His “gentle whisper” while it is still gentle.