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?” 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.”
—1 KINGS 19:9–10, NIV
OPPOSITION TO YOUR call can come from without or within. Persecution (such as negative words from others) and thoughts that lead to feelings of insecurity are attacks the enemy initiates to silence you—just as he has always tried to silence and provoke God’s prophets.
The prophet Elijah experienced some of the most dramatic miracles we read about in the Old Testament. Yet even after Elijah demonstrated God’s great power through his ministry, a threat against his life triggered fear within him that sent Elijah running into the wilderness, asking God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4).
Elijah had prophesied it would not rain for three years except by his command, and it was so. After challenging the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, at the command of the Lord, the prophet Elijah stood in the presence of all and said, “The LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word” (1 Kings 18:36). Then, in one of the most shocking displays of God’s awesome power recorded in the Old Testament, fire fell from heaven, licked up the water around the altar, and consumed the sacrifice. The hand of God then came upon Elijah, and he slew all the prophets of Baal. (See 1 Kings 18:38–45.) When King Ahab told his wicked wife, Jezebel, what Elijah had done, she was furious and announced her intent to kill Elijah because he had slain her false prophets. Suddenly, the mighty prophet who had just called fire from heaven became frightened by the threat of an angry woman, and he ran away. Elijah ran until he physically couldn’t run anymore. An angel came to feed him supernaturally, then Elijah continued running in fear of Jezebel for another forty days.
Finally, he arrived at a cave in Horeb and lodged there. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah in that cave, saying: “What are you doing here?” Elijah proceeded to say that he was jealous for the Lord because the Israelites had forsaken His covenant, torn down His altars, and killed His prophets with the sword. He ended by saying, “I only am left, and they seek my life to take it away.” (See 1 Kings 19:13–14.) With that final statement, Elijah revealed that it was actually fear that propelled him to run.
Mount Horeb was far from Mount Carmel—the place where the Lord had sent Elijah, met him, and confirmed him with mighty signs, including sending fire from heaven to burn the sacrifice and prove that He, not Baal, was the one true God. Elijah was not where faith in God led him, but in the place where the fear of man had driven him. Hiding in a cave, feeling fearful and sorry for himself, Elijah forgot that God had displayed His mighty power on Elijah’s behalf time and time again.
Although he ran from the threat of Jezebel, Elijah could not run from the voice of God, who said to him, “Go out and stand on the mountain…I want you to be there when I pass by” (1 Kings 19:11, CEV). The passage goes on to say:
All at once, a strong wind shook the mountain and shattered the rocks. But the LORD was not in the wind. Next, there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. Then there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. Finally, there was a gentle breeze and when Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his coat. He went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. A voice asked, “Elijah, why are you here?” Elijah answered, “LORD God All-Powerful, I’ve always done my best to obey you. But your people have broken their solemn promise to you. They have torn down your altars and killed all your prophets, except me. And now they are even trying to kill me!”
—1 KINGS 19:11–14, CEV
When God asks you a question, it’s not because He does not know the answer. He’s giving you an opportunity to tell yourself the truth and cleanse your heart of doubt.
Therefore, thus says the LORD [to Jeremiah], “If you repent [and give up this mistaken attitude of despair and self-pity], then I will restore you [to a state of inner peace] so that you may stand before Me [as My obedient representative]; and if you separate the precious from the worthless [examining yourself and cleansing your heart from unwarranted doubt concerning My faithfulness], you will become My spokesman. Let the people turn to you [and learn to value My values]—but you, you must not turn to them [with regard for their idolatry and wickedness].
—JEREMIAH 15:19, AMP
PRAYER
Lord, I repent of fear and unbelief. My life is not my own. I have been formed by Your hand, called by Your name, filled with Your Spirit, and purchased by the precious blood of Jesus. I am Yours. Even the gifting and graces upon my life are not mine to use; they have been given to me for Your purposes. Never again will I allow doubt and unbelief to stop me from believing in the promises of God (Heb. 3:19). I pray as Your anointed disciples prayed, “Increase my faith!” (Luke 17:5). I pray as Your anointed disciples prayed, “Increase my faith!” (Luke 17:5). Let me be a good steward of Your prophetic gift (1 Cor. 4:1).