When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, Why are you here, Elijah? 1 Kings 19:13 NABRE
After Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal and puts the fear of the one true God in King Ahab, he is threatened by Jezebel His wife and an evil Queen. Elijah fearing for His life flees all alone and prays under a broom tree. He is greeted by an angel, fed and told to go to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. It is the mountain upon which God gave Moses the ten commandments. There he hears the voice of God asking why he is here. In the scene described, God tells Elijah, hiding in a cave, to go to the entrance , that He the Lord is going to pass by. There was a strong wind that crushed the rocks, called an earthquake, but God was not in the strong wind. Then there was a fire but God was not in the fire. Finally, a light silent sound is heard by Elijah and he hides his face, he knows it is God who is passing in the light silent sound. The Lord then asks Elijah a second time why he is here. Eventually God instructs Elijah where to go and to anoint new kings and a prophet to replace himself. Elijah does as he is instructed by God.
We read this question often from God and even more often from Jesus. What are you doing here, or put another way, what do you want? Reading scripture like a novel we might ask why doesn’t God know why Elijah has come, particularly after God’s messenger told him where to go. God asks Elijah and us questions like this not so we tell him but that we may know for ourselves. Always before answering a question, we must know the answer for ourself. God wants us to know our mission, our purpose and what He has in store for us.
Why are you here? Where do you think God wants you to be?
God asks Elijah and us questions like this not so we tell Him but that we may know for ourselves. Always before answering a question, we must know the answer for ourself. God wants us to know our mission, our purpose and what He has in store for us. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #silence #Elijah #Kings #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #gospels #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways