When the Earth Shatters

1 Kings 19

Elijah, the man, was just as susceptible to discouragement as the rest of us. 

I often find that surprising.

But it gives me hope for our story. 

As we ride the highs and crumble in the lows.

That we’re not alone in those moments where we feel defeated.

Even immediately after we experience intensely sacred moments or blessings or successes.

In 1 Kings 19, we read the story of Elijah fleeing to Horeb and the Lord appearing to him there.  Elijah has just witnessed the fire of God on the altar and the God-drenching-rain on the whole kingdom.  And yet he is filled with despair over the lack of impact his ministry has made.  

He is so discouraged when he receives a death curse from Jezebels that he runs.  He runs until he reaches the desert.  He curls into the fetal position under a broom tree and prepares to surrender his life.  Vs 3 “I have had enough.  Take my life.  I am no better than my ancestors.” He has sensed no revival in Israel.

God sends an angel to sustain him.  To touch him and to feed him.  Two distinct and separate actions.  One to fill his belly and quench his thirst and one to revive his spirit.

Vs 8 “And strengthened by that food he was able to travel 40 days and 40 nights until he reached Horeb: the mountain of God.”

And God appeared to Elijah on Mt Horeb,

Like He appeared in the fire on Mt Carmel.

Like He appeared to Moses on Mt Sinai.

God always shows up.  

God asks Elijah “What are you doing here Elijah?” in verses 9 and 13.

We see in Elijah’s answer that he has lost his confidence in his mission and in the triumph of the kingdom of God, and he was ready to step away from this conflict.  This battle and this war.  He’s had enough.  And he was complaining about the fruitlessness of his work (NIV Notes).  Vs 10 “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.”

Elijah, having this little pity party in the darkness of the mountain cave.  Feeling very alone.  Making this about Elijah.  Right after meeting Obadiah. Hearing about the 100 other prophets.   Right after the showdown on Mt Carmel.  

In verse 11 God beckons Elijah to step outside. “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”

Vs 11 “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. “

God asks him a second time. “What are you doing here Elijah?” 

And Elijah, completely unmoved, gives the same answer. 

He gets to see the glory of God, and the power of God, but the Presence of God is in the whisper.  In the desert, and in the dark cave and in the cleft of the rock, between the rock and the hard place….is the whisper of God.  But Elijah is not moved and gives the same answer.  

Elijah wants God to unleash a violent spirit of judgment throughout the kingdom.  He is zealous for God, and wants to take the world by force.  But God is sending him to keep whispering.   He sends him out to anoint a new guard, a new generation of leadership.  

Vs 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 of Aram. 16 Also anoint Jehu son of Nimshi kind over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat to succeed you as prophet. `8 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.’ “

God sends Elijah out, and reveals to him the work that He is doing in Israel.  That a spirit of faithfulness is astir.

Like Elijah, we may sometimes look around our lives, and our work, and our ministries, and expectantly look for rock shattering, and hurricane force winds, raging fire, and be let down when we don’t see things move from our efforts. No apparent fruit from our zealous spirit-work. As if we are the ones who should supposedly be sustained by that fruit and fill our bellies and our hearts and our souls. 

And God comes in the whisper.  

He always shows up. 

Always. 

God’s Presence manifest in this world.

This great, mighty, powerful, glorious coming as a tiny little baby. 

Revealing His sacrificial love in the bruised broken human body on the cross.  

These most unlikely earth-shattering Grace and salvation whispers that rocked the world.