My oldest son had a habit (actually a lot of habits ... I just mention this one) that used to bug me to no end. He would play sport’s themed video games and whenever the tide had turned in favor of the computer he would reach out and hit the reset button and start over. It would drive me crazy! I would always say, “Life doesn’t have a reset button!”
He would remind me, “It’s only a game Dad and it is more fun when you win!”
I would counter with “but winning is even sweeter when you make a comeback and overcome the odds.”
He would then remind that he was playing a game and the purpose of the game was to bring enjoyment and he enjoyed winning ... all the time!
I have often thought that life would be a lot easier if it had a reset button?
As we continue this week in the life of Elijah, He has just won a big victory. However, in the aftermath of the great victory he will find himself devoid of purpose and I believe searching for a reset button for his own life.
When we were last with Elijah he had just journeyed nearly 100 miles to challenge and defeat the 450 prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. After the battle was won and all of the prophets killed, Elijah prayed for rain to return to the land. At the sight of distant rain clouds, Elijah ran the seventeen miles back to Jezreel. He ran so fast that he arrived ahead of Ahab in his chariot. Elijah is on “top of the world.” Everything is going just as planned – God is good – there is no God like Jehovah! Meanwhile, it is still early in the evening at the palace and Ahhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifab must deliver the bad news to his wife, Jezebel, the queen.
1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 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."
Obviously, Jezebel does not take the news well. All of these now dead prophets had been in her safe keeping these past 3+ years. So, she sends a message to Elijah that she will have him killed in the next 24 hours.
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."
Upon hearing the news, Elijah begins to flee in fear for his life. His journey of running in fear takes him over 100 miles from Jezreel. At his point, Elijah declares for the first time, “I have had enough God, take my life.”
I suppose looking in from the outside, Elijah looks a fool. After all, didn’t God provide protection for Elijah these past 3+ years? During this time, had not Jezebel been trying to have him killed? Hadn’t Elijah just taken part (with the help of the entire nation) in defeating (killing) all the false prophets? Had Elijah not just been part of one of the greatest displays of God’s might and power?
Elijah! Why are you running away?
5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
After all that God has done for Elijah. In the moment of victory, Elijah runs in defeat and chooses to hide. I love God’s response because it reveals to us much about God’s character. God responds with grace – not rebuke. God allows Elijah to rest. God even feeds him with similar provisions, bread cakes and water, as before. Perhaps this was a subtle reminder from God of their past history together? Perhaps you can relate in your life to those subtle moments when you have been reminded of God’s provision in your life.
God strengthens Elijah for the journey that lies ahead of him. God knows where Elijah is headed even though it is not where God wants him to be. Elijah will spend the next 40 days traveling to Mount Horeb. Elijah is going to the holy mountain of God to once and for all have it out with God.
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. 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, 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."
What has brought Elijah to this point? He is exhausted. He is disillusioned with his work. The people have not changed their ways. He also has a distorted perspective on events. He is depressed. He has forgotten his past with God: the ravine, the Widow, the victory over Baal, and his encounter with Obadiah and the other 100 prophets. Elijah is focused on the negative and as a result Jezebel now seems larger than God.
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?"
God asks Elijah, “Why are you here?” This is a subtle way of asking why are you not where I have sent you? God does not argue with Elijah but rather provides him with a divine encounter – Yes, God is in the big things (Fire, Wind, Earthquake), BUT God is also in the calm and quiet and no matter what is happening God is in control.
Even after this encounter Elijah has still had enough – it all seems pointless! His response sounds even more self-centered when repeated after this encounter. Elijah was in need of a new vision from God – He just couldn’t see it.
14 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."
How often we must sound like Elijah, while we repeat the same excuses for failing to do what we know God has asked us to do. 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 all whose mouths have not kissed him." 19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you."
God remains patient and tells Elijah to go back. God patiently reminds Elijah, “I am not done with you!” God also reveals more details for the plan that God has for taking back the country.
Elijah responds with obedience and does as God asks – He goes back. Sometimes the purpose that God has for our lives is in the place we are – it’s just when we are honest – it isn’t the place we want to be!
Don’t miss that God’s grace becomes real and available as a result of Elijah’s obedience. At the end of this chapter in Elijah’s life, Elisha is provided as a companion and confidant for Elijah. This is a reminder that God provides people in our lives to keep us from wearing out, to encourage us, to help us keep perspective, to help us keep the faith --- that is the church --- small groups --- Christian friends.
We will leave Elijah today on his journey to meeting Elisha. The story of their meeting is for another day and perhaps another series because I want to focus on the one question that God asks Elijah, “Why are you here?”
Have you ever reached the point where you just wanted to quit – throw in the towel - or at the very least ask for a “do-over” or a mulligan? It is easy to reach that point – the point in life where nothing seems to be going well and everything seems stacked against you. Whatever purpose you thought you had in life is gone or forgotten. You are left feeling alone – life is purposeless and you are ready to quit.
Perhaps God is asking you today, “Why are you here?” Why are you here in this moment of your life in general? Too often we seek to find our purpose in what we do – our careers – our activities --- but God had called us to a greater purpose --- and the problem is, like Elijah, we often run from our purpose.
Too often we seek to find God in the big things. While God is most often revealed in the quiet and often unnoticed moments.
Have you had enough of life and all that it has offered you? Are you worn out? Feeling isolated? Defeated? Are you running from something? Have you ever been exhausted by all that life has offered? Have you been disillusioned by people? Have you felt like what is the point of all that I do? Have you ever felt depressed? Alone? Defeated?
God’s grace is sufficient. Jesus offers rest for the weary and strength for those that are worn out. Don’t miss out on the provision that God has for your life. God is calling you back into His loving care.
Don’t miss God’s provision of a friend – we often feel alone and defeated – because we allow ourselves to be in isolation. We refuse to tell others, or be around others, or we fail to notice those that have withdrawn. We were not designed to be alone . . . Why are you here?
Find a church home. Find a place to call home.
Why are you here?
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