Elijah was alone and despairing, yet the Lord knew his
heart. “What are you doing here?” the Lord asked him (1 Kin. 19:9). And
Elijah said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for
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” (v. 10).
Elijah wanted desperately to see the nation awakened, but
he did not understand the role God would have him play. Perhaps
Elijah’s main mistake was that he was personally shouldering the burden
of Israel’s revival. Not knowing his own place, he assumed the place of
God.
Calling Elijah out of the cave, the Lord told him, “Go
out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord” (v. 11). As Elijah
stepped out of the cave’s darkness, an awesome event occurred.
“And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong
wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the
Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an
earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the
earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire
a still small voice” (vv. 11-12).
A New Revelation of God
There are times when, to lead us on into new authority
and blessings, God must liberate us from the container of our previous
experiences. The Lord was passing by, but He was not in the wind, the
earthquake or the fire, all of which were familiar symbols to Elijah.
The Lord who caused these mighty manifestations was not in them.
For Elijah, mighty manifestations had been signs of God’s
approval. But something new was at hand that required a fresh
submission to the living God. A double portion of power was coming! The
distinguishing characteristic of this new anointing would be seen not
only in supernatural manifestations but also in greater wisdom and
compassion.
Earthquakes, fires and storms—the signs that accompanied
Elijah—are the signs of our times as well. But to enter the double
portion, we must learn to recognize God’s nearness when there are no
“earthquakes” or “storms” to capture our attention. He demands we enter
a more refined relationship with Him, one that is based on His love and
the whisper of His word, not merely upon spiritual phenomena or the
issues of our times.
After the last sign, there came “a still small voice” (1
Kin. 19:12). Elijah recognized it: The presence of God was returning.
Elijah “wrapped his face in his mantle” lest he look upon God (v. 13).
Perhaps it was near this very site that Moses, 500 years
earlier, hid when the Lord passed by. Now it was Elijah’s turn.
Entering this eternal stillness was the person of God.
We too must learn to hear the voice of Him who rarely
speaks audibly and observe the actions of Him who is otherwise
invisible. Elijah would gain the courage to endure Jezebel’s wrath the
same way Moses faced the rage of Pharaoh: “He endured, as seeing Him
who is invisible” (Heb. 11:27). We must learn to detect, without great
signs, the still, small voice of God.
He will not fight for our attention; He must be sought.
He will not startle us; He must be perceived. It took no special skill
to “discern” the earthquake, the fire or the great storm. But to sense
the holy quiet of God, our other activities must cease.
In our world of great pressures and continual
distractions, the attention of our hearts must rise to the invisible
world of God’s Spirit. We must learn to see Him who is unseen.
A New Beginning
In the quieting of Elijah’s heart, the Lord in His
goodness drew near, reassuring Elijah that he was not alone in his
battle: There were still 7,000 Israelites who had not bowed to Baal.
Next, a new commission came.
The Lord told Elijah to anoint Hazael as king over Syria
and Jehu as king over Israel. He also was to train Elisha, who would be
his successor (1 Kin. 19:15-16).
At Horeb, God released a “double portion” of spiritual
power. Although the Lord gave the new anointing to Elijah, it would be
Elisha who would walk in it (2 Kin. 2:9-14). Elisha would do twice as
many miracles. More than any other Old Testament prophet, Elisha’s
works would most resemble those of Christ Himself.
Elijah did not personally bring national restoration, but
he prepared the way for Elisha, who brought the closest thing to
revival the northern tribes ever experienced. Out of his Horeb
encounter with God, Elijah received a greater understanding of his
place in God. His call was not to establish, but to “go before” and
prepare the way for greater things to come.
In fact, Elijah was so successful at “preparing the way”
that his spiritual anointing was apportioned to John the Baptist as a
herald to Christ’s first coming. Elijah is destined to prepare the way
for Christ’s second coming as well (see Mal. 4:5-6; Matt. 17:11).
As this age ends, God’s promise to us is that we too
shall receive a “double portion” (Is. 61:7; John 14:12). What can this
mean but that the Lord is going to reveal Himself to us in glories we
have never known before?
Do not despair if you find yourself in a time of
desolation. In truth, with God, our desolation is but preparation for a
new beginning of power and service—an opportunity for God to “show us
His ways.”
Our task is to be still and know that Christ is God. He
shall triumph over all His foes. He will be exalted in all the earth,
and in Him is the stronghold of God.
O Master, how easily I fall into dead religious habits
and spiritual dullness! Lord, I long to know Your ways, to have eyes
that really see and ears that clearly hear. Teach me, Lord Jesus, the
intimacies of God. Remove the mystery surrounding Yourself that I might
truly know You. Forgive me for looking for signs instead of listening
for Your voice. O God, how I long to truly know You as Moses did, to
abide in Your glory.
Restore to Your church the double portion You have
promised, and guide us into the fullness of Your power. In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Francis Frangipane is the pastor of River of Life Ministries, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the author of The Three Battlegrounds, The House of the Lord and five other books. He is also a contributor to Charisma magazine.
Abby Trivett 
James Lasher 
