Counting on God to fulfill his promises
1 Kings 18:30-39
30 Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!” They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. 31 He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel, 32 and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons. 33 He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood.
Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.”
34 After they had done this, he said, “Do the same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said, 35 and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. 37 O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
38 Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”
1 Kings 19:9-18
9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.
But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
15 Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. 16 Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. 17 Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! 18 Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”
What a supernatural event! Elijah is God’s vehicle to show his power and glory, which he certainly does in a spectacular way. Did you notice even the ground and stones were consumed when God sent the fire? Wow. And how incredible that the fire came down onto the saturated sacrifice. From what I know of fire, it doesn’t go down, rather it goes up. This is how God showed who he was, leaving absolutely no doubt that he had done it.
This famous event shows us the prayer of faith. Elijah knew God would act because God had previously commanded him to go to the king and that was his cue to speak against the idol worshippers, who had forsaken the Lord. So, in obedience he went to Ahab, greatly jeopardising his own safety. His prayer of faith therefore was Elijah holding onto God’s word (v36 “I have done all these things at your command”) and counting on him to fulfill his promises.
Incredibly in the next chapter, it must have all just got too much for Elijah. He flees for his life, and hides. No longer is he striding confidently before an altar on a mountain – now he is cowering in a cave, alone. God led Elijah there to give him rest and a safe place to recover from his running. And then he met him there in the soft wind. I love the way the Lord speaks to Elijah twice “What are you doing here?” It is not scolding or berating, but God allows Elijah to speak of his fears. Is this a process of confession and restoration? To allow Elijah to acknowledge his fear, and to lean on God to restore his faith in the beautiful picture of him coming out to the mouth of the cave to meet with God. It is a picture of a God who understands, who calls me to be honest and to wrestle with my fears before him, to tell him I feel alone and that I need him. To tell me I have not failed. He comes to me and says, “I am here, I am waiting for you, I know your future and I will be with you through it all.”
Dear heavenly Father, thank you that in my lowest place, when I am cowering from life’s blows, you will be there. Holy Spirit activate my faith at those times, so I can stand in your word and show your glory to everyone around me. Amen.
Written by Claire Moore