Summer At Sea: Week 6 Day 2

1 Kings 19:9(b)-18

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn 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.”

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn 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.”

15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

As I write this, there is a weariness in my body and heart and I want to find rest. I am in a season where even my sleep is restless, and today’s passage reminds me that time alone with the Lord when we are weary is vital; it matters on an exponential scale. 

The circumstances surrounding Elijah reminds me of how loud, unsettling, and altogether frightening life’s circumstances can be. This text, however, says to wait and to listen. After the rumble and roar of circumstances dies down, the Lord comes with a gentle whisper; a voice that requires the ability to stand in the chaos until He speaks. For Elijah God asked, “What are you doing here?” (1 Kings 19:13). For you, the question might be the same, or a thousand variations on it, but one promise we have in Scripture is that for us who believe in Jesus and confess His name, we will be led and guided by the God who speaks honestly and gently.

Today, to us who are tired, weary, and worn out, He is whispering. Your weariness is not a reason to stop, God will strengthen you for the task ahead, but first you must be still and listen. How can you listen today for what the Lord is speaking to you?