What Doest Thou Here?
Elijah was a faithful prophet of God. He was an obedient and willing servant, always ready to do what had God instructed him. He was like most of us, not exempted from life’s various challenges, and experienced discouragements, frustrations, and anxiety that led him to severe depression.
This passage describes that after his victorious confrontation against the followers of Baal, it did not give him any satisfaction. He felt totally abandoned, focused on the thought and the reality that he fought all alone, that nobody was on his side. He did not see the God of miracles in fulfilling what God instructed him to do. He did not realize how God answered his prayers when fire came down from heaven and consumed his sacrifice on the altar.
He lost his awareness how God used him to defeat all the prophets of Baal. On top of that when Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, threatened him, he was afraid, felt hopeless, and escaped to self isolation.
He had no time to appreciate how God had protected him and sustained him in a supernatural way. He went and stayed under the juniper tree, in deep grief and sadness. He was suicidal that he asked God to take his life.
The Lord sent an angel and cared for him. Finally, he travelled a long distance but ended his journey in a cave, which meant that he remained emotionally unstable. He wanted to be alone. He was unwilling to move on. He was celebrating defeat instead of victory!
Being full of pride, he remained stuck. Noticed that God never abandoned him. The Lord was always with Elijah wherever he was physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
When he found himself in cave (representation of hopelessness, sadness, and defeat), God continued to minister to him. He taught Elijah to not always expect incredible experiences or sights such as strong wind, earthquake, and fire. The Lord God Almighty was and will still be present and powerful in a still, small, voice!
Lesson/Application:
How about you? Do you only see God in His power and majestic presence? Do you recognize the Lord’s presence in the midst of simplicity, quietness and in times of loneliness and sadness?
Finally, the Lord asked him this soul-searching question, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” It was not a question for God to know. It was a question for Elijah to realize that God all along was with him. When the chosen people of God were not supportive of Elijah, God was always there on his side. He was faithfully doing miracles and in His still, small voice continued directing and sustaining him.
God does not want us to remain in the cave of discouragement, depression, and defeat. He wants us to overcome our fears, to move on and continue living and serving Him faithfully.
If you are stuck in the cave of despondency and discouragement, listen for He is asking you the same question. “What doest thou here?” Why don’t you start listening to His still, small voice to help you overcome your doubts, fears, anger, hopelessness, depression, and thoughts of suicide. God is now talking to you for He cares for you!
Conclusion:
Elijah had all the right intentions. It was right for him to see the disobedience and unfaithfulness of God’s people. It was appropriate for him to be bothered and affected by their nonchalant attitude. But it was not right for him to feel all alone in the fight and fail to see the power and the wonders of God. For in those times, precious opportunities are always there for us to be a blessing. Elijah missed out on the blessings from God because he was focused on self.
I was like Elijah before. As a Pastor there were times when I only rejoiced when the attendance was great and the offering was up. I was excited when people were saved, were baptized, and when God’s people responded to the altar call. However, when everything was down and the results were not as I expected, I became doubtful, discouraged, stuck in self-pity and wanted to quit. Praise God in His still, small, and tender voice, He manifested Himself to me and taught me to only trust Him.
Oh yes, I am still affected by the downtrend results and harsh difficulties in the ministry and in my personal life, but I have learned to keep my eyes on the Lord and to trust Him completely! I have learned to rejoice and look for the opportunities He gave and to celebrate the Victory all the time. Amen!