Elijah (9)

Rev. C. Vogelaar, Covell Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI

The Lord, who is the faithful keeper of His children and servants, came to visit His messenger. First, the angel of the Lord had come to him and commanded him to arise and eat. After having been refreshed and strengthened, Elijah went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights and traveled to Horeb, the mount of God. His task was not yet finished. His Master did not send him away, and he would still have to learn more lessons.

He came to Mount Horeb. There, God had appeared to Moses in the burning bush. His law had been given from that mount, and Moses had communed with the Lord forty days and forty nights. There, the God of the covenant revealed Himself. This is also the place where the Lord will teach His servant some indispensable and surprising lessons. His Master knew where Elijah went and why he was there. However, He came with a question to His discouraged servant. “What doest thou here, Elijah?”

A serious complaint

God had spoken to him personally on previous occasions. The word of the Lord had directed him to hide by the brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:2&3). It had come to him again, commanding him to go to Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8&9). Yet again, it had commanded him to show himself unto Ahab (1 Kings 18:1). However, there is some difference here. As the fugitive lurked in the cave, we are told, “and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him.” This expressive “behold” does not occur in the previous passages, and the fact that it is used here means that something extraordinary is before us. It was not only a divine message which was communicated to him but also a visit from a divine Person. God visited him and asked him, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” No, it wasn’t that the Lord did not know this. This question was a rebuke, a searching word addressed to Elijah’s conscience.

Elijah, are you employing your time for the glory of God and the good of His people? You, who are the servant of the Most High, who have been so highly honored, who have received such clear tokens of His help, and who depended upon the Almighty for protection, what are you doing here, away from the land of Israel, away from the work that the Lord has laid upon you?

Answering, Elijah said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, thrown down Thine altars, and slain Thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” It was true; Elijah had been very jealous for the Lord. He mourned about the sins of the nation which was called by God’s name. He was deeply distressed to behold how grievously the Lord was dishonored, how His laws were broken, and how the idols were worshipped. It seemed that all his labors had been in vain, and now they even wanted to slay him. Elijah truly loved the Lord and was grieving about the condition of his people.

Are there still such mourners among us? Are there those who do not only talk about the seriousness of our times, the sins of the nation, and the barrenness of the church but are among those who may pour out their heart before the Lord, pleading with Him to visit our country with new outpourings of the Spirit? Are there those sighers and criers begging for mercy for an undeserving people?

It is to be feared that there is much more talking about the darkness of the times than that there are such supplicants. Elijah was not in the right place, but he showed his sincere love and dedication to his Master, a Master who is so worthy that every knee would bow before Him.

A divine answer

Elijah is called to come out of the cave and stand upon the mount before the Lord. There, he would receive gracious instruction, lessons which were so necessary in order to bring him again to the right place and enable him to continue his labors. Despite Elijah’s failure, and though he even attempted to justify the forsaking of his duty, the Lord was faithful and gracious to His child.

Something remarkable and unexpected happened, for we read, “And behold, the Lord passed by.” At first, a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord. This must have made a mighty impression. How small is man and how mighty, how powerful the Creator, the God of Elijah and of all His people. However, the Lord was not in the wind.

After this, an earthquake took place, but the Lord was also not in the earthquake. Next, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. Finally, there was just a still small voice which was heard by Elijah with deep reverence. He wrapped his face in his mantle, realizing his own unworthiness and God’s greatness.

Elijah had expected great changes, a mighty revival of true religion, and a bowing under God by his people Israel, but nothing had happened, even after God had so clearly shown His power on Mount Carmel. There He had answered the prayers of Elijah and given fire on the altar. He had opened the heavens and poured rain upon the dry and thirsty ground. Both the people and king had seemed to be impressed. These had been glorious times for God’s servant, but after all this, nothing had changed. Now his own life was even endangered by Ahab’s wife, the ungodly Jezebel.

What a lesson it is to learn, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” We may expect that heaven and earth have to be moved in order to convert a hardened sinner, a prodigal son, a wayward child, or a rebellious nation. However, God may come with a still small voice when we do not expect it. This is also experienced when the Lord graciously works in the heart of sinners. When the strong winds of discovery are sent, our so-called goodness, our holiness, and our self-righteousness are blown away. When the earthquake comes by further uncovering, the house of our hope is shaken; there is no rest, no refuge for us from our side. When the fire burns and God’s justice demands satisfaction, everything outside of Christ is removed, and we cannot stand before a holy, righteous God.

What an eternal wonder it is when such a sinner, expecting to be cast away forever, and bowing under God’s righteous judgment, may hear a still small voice speaking to him. He may hear that there is a Saviour, a suitable and willing Redeemer for such a rebel, and by faith he may hear the voice of Him who calls wearied and heavy-laden sinners to come unto Him. He encourages them, saying that He will never cast out those that come to Him.

Elijah had to answer the same question from the Lord, and again, he gave the answer he had given before. Oh, how slow God’s people are to learn. However, the Lord will give further instruction to His servant.

A new task

There was still something for him to do. When Peter repented for his great sin of denying his Master, Christ not only forgave him but gave him a new commission, “Feed My sheep.” So the Lord not only restored the soul of the prophet here but appointed him to a new task in His service. He had to go to the wilderness of Damascus and anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Then, he had to anoint Jehu as king over Israel. After this, he had to anoint Elisha to be prophet in his place.

These men would be instruments in the hand of God to bring judgment upon the land. God would take care of His own honor; He would by no means desert His cause or suffer His enemies to triumph as the prophet had feared. There would be a variety of instruments which He would be pleased to employ: Hazael, the king of Syria, and Jehu, the rude captain of Israel, and Elisha, a young farmer. God announced that the sword would do its fearful work thoroughly until the land was purged of the great evil of idolatry. Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha would be like the strong wind, the earthquake, and the fire which the Lord had just shown to him.

When Elijah did not know anymore how this stiff-necked, foolish people would be brought back from their own wicked ways, the Lord showed that He would take care of His own work. His enemies would experience this with terror, and His people would be encouraged and rejoice, for God’s cause and His work would become precious to them. The Lord would also encourage His servant with the message, “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” What a wonderful comfort. Elijah believed that he only was left, but God still had a remnant in Israel, a people who could not bow before the idols of those days but who were hidden sighers and beggars at the throne of God. It was a remnant not only loved and chosen by God from eternity but also drawn in time with irresistible power to Him and His blessed service.

There is still such a remnant today. It may be small and is often so hidden. The powers of the adversaries, unbelief, and wickedness may seem to have the victory in this world, but God preserves a remnant that is precious in His sight. He visits them, also in the darkest days as He did to Elijah.

The cause of God’s Church lies in almighty, faithful hands, and nobody will be able to take the Church out of His hands. They are engraved in the palms of His hands, and their walls are continually before Him. The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in the hand of the exalted Christ. Therefore, the psalmist gives the warning, “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way.” There is also a word of comfort for the remnant. “Blessed are they that put their trust in Him.” Their King is upon the throne in His glory. He reigns; He will lead, protect, and care for them.

(To be continued)

Christ taketh as poor men may give: where there is a mean portion, He is content with the less, if there be sincerity; broken sums and little feckless obedience will be pardoned, and hold the foot with Him ... He breaketh not a bruised reed, nor quencheth the smoking flax, but if the wind blow, He holdeth His hands about it till it rise to a flame.

— Samuel Rutherford

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