Why?

I want to take a brief look at an experience in the life of the prophet Elijah and what the Lord is speaking to us by His Spirit today.

Elijah lived in one of the darkest times in the history of Israel. Ahab and Jezebel, who were in power at this time, were two of the wicked rulers in Israel’s history. They not only promoted idol worship but totally dismantled every aspect of the worship of God, persecuting and killing God’s prophets and those who worshiped God. It was in the midst of this darkest hour that God raised up Elijah and Elisha, two of the greatest miracle-working prophets in Israel’s history, to lead this epic life-and-death struggle with Baalism.

We take up this story in 1 Kings 19, where Elijah at the pinnacle of his ministry calls down fire from heaven to burn up the sacrifice, bringing all Israel to their knees, proclaiming that “The Lord --- He is God! the Lord---He is God!” Elijah then kills the four hundred prophets of Baal, prophesies the end of a seven year drought and outruns Ahab’s Chariot to Jezreel. Awesome! What a display of God’s power! What a revival! But the enemy does not give up control easily, and Jezebel decrees the death of Elijah. He runs for his life to “Horeb, the mountain of God,” which was probably Mt. Sinai, the place of God’s covenant with Israel.

There in the cave of the mountain, discouraged that the great revival had brought no real change in Israel, God confronts Elijah. “What are you doing here Elijah?” Elijah replies, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." (I Kings 19:14) Have you ever been in that spot? You have been zealous in your relationship and service of God. You may have begun to see some breakthrough and then run into a wall, or everything seems to fall apart. Our first response is usually, “Why?”

But God’s response to Elijah is very revealing about God’s attitude with regard to what we perceive as failure. God does not address the “why” question or Elijah’s discouragement. In I Kings 19:15-16 He simply gives Elijah a command, to go anoint Hazael to be king over Aram, Jehu to be king of Israel, and Elisha to be his successor. Then as a bit of encouragement, He tells Elijah that He has “reserved seven thousand in Israel --- all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal.” In essence, God is telling Elijah that Israel is not your concern. I know what I am doing in Israel, I have my people, and I have a plan. Your job is simply to do what I ask you to do and leave the rest to me.

We live in a dark time in the world today. This spring over 130 missionaries were deported from Morocco, and in the past month eight missionaries were killed in Afghanistan. Areas where the kingdom of God is advancing, the enemy has been pushing back. The future for many is very uncertain. The enemy seems to be gaining the upper hand. In the midst of what we see happening in our world and often in our lives, we often ask the question, “Why?” The answer to that question usually does not belong to us. God does not see failure as we see it. God is in control and is fulfilling His plan no matter what is going on around us. Like Elijah, God usually does not give us His plan, but gives us simple steps He wants us to take and then leave the rest up to Him.

May you hear God’s still quiet voice today, and have the courage to trust Him, and simply do what He asks you to do.

Andy Clark