Have you ever heard God ask that of you? “What are you doing here, child?”
Elijah walked for 40 days apparently in the wrong direction. This cave doesn’t seem to be where God wanted him to be. But isn’t it comforting to know that even if we are in the wrong place, God will meet us there? Or that when we choose our own way, God directs our wayward steps to Himself?
Elijah responded to God like many of us. Allow me to take a little liberty… “I’ve been working for You, Lord! I did what You asked me to. I don’t see anyone else doing this. I’m the last one standing, and now look what’s happening.”
Don’t you just love the humanity? I’ve not had my life threatened, but to some degree I get it. Sometimes my life becomes all about me. I become a legend in my own mind, chasing the bubbles I myself have blown, and pointing at others as if I’m indispensable. All my bubbles burst at the pinnacle of my pity parties. It always feels legitimate in the moment. [grin] But it doesn’t really explain the way, now does it? The answer might be a little easier if we just get real.
“What are you doing here, child? Wonder if God’s response would have been the same if Elijah had simply said, “God, I’m afraid. I’m tired. I’m hurt. I’m a mess. I think so. Because the best answer for any attitude is God’s presence. The best answer in any situation is God’s presence. God’s answer to Elijah was “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.”
Need to get your spiritual bearings like me? Stand before the Lord. Let Him “get up in your face.” Let Him reveal Himself you, and let Him reveal yourself to you. Stand before the Lord and the Lord will make Himself known. I think Elijah had witnessed God’s miraculous power so much that he might have been looking for the big stuff. I think I want the whirlwind, the earthquake, the pyrotechnics. Sometimes in our unbelief the big stuff is a reminder of how great God truly is. Elijah was no stranger to God’s omnipotence. He had recently seen it, experienced it on Mt. Carmel. Maybe the extraordinary had become ordinary. Or maybe God was saying to Elijah “You were afraid of a girl; let me teach you about the fear of the Lord.” Either way, the scripture says God “was not in” any of those. Rather, Elijah heard God in the sound of a low whisper. Actually, I like it in the NRSV: Elijah heard God in the sound of sheer silence.
Dallas Willard said, “Silence is frightening because it strips us as nothing else does, throwing us upon the stark realities of our life. God can choose to use divine fireworks or solitude and silence to get the message across to His chosen knuckleheads. Either way we experience Him and reality rubs us raw. Most recently, I’ve experienced the sheer silence that speaks like thunder. I’ve experienced the solitude that makes the decibel levels of my heart increase, my thoughts screaming rather than steadily whirring. And sometimes I hear God speak and feel His presence. And sometimes, I’m stuck with just me. Either way “it’s purposeful in God’s hands when we respond like Elijah.”
Elijah “wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. There came a voice to him… I don’t want to read anything into that statement or over-spiritualize an ordinary chill, so I’m just giving my opinion here… not teaching. Elijah’s mantle was used a number of times, most often (it seems to me) as a symbol of authority. It was used a lot like Moses’ staff. We all know that Moses held the staff, but the authority was God’s. I believe it to be the same with Elijah’s mantle. And here I see a sweet picture of submission. Despite hs continued insistence that he was the lone prophet, Elijah wrapped God’s authority around himself. And then he heard God speak. I like the picture even if I’ve stretched to interpret it. It speaks to my heart in my solitude, in my self-pity, loneliness, self-importance, and even in my shame at times. His authority is my security blanket. I can speak my mind boldly, but in the end, His voice comes and I wrap myself in His sovereign Lordship over me and walk forward in His will.
Need to get your spiritual bearings like me? Stand before the Lord. Let Him “get up in your face.” Let Him reveal Himself you, and let Him reveal yourself to you. Stand before the Lord and the Lord will make Himself known. I think Elijah had witnessed God’s miraculous power so much that he might have been looking for the big stuff. I think I want the whirlwind, the earthquake, the pyrotechnics. Sometimes in our unbelief the big stuff is a reminder of how great God truly is. Elijah was no stranger to God’s omnipotence. He had recently seen it, experienced it on Mt. Carmel. Maybe the extraordinary had become ordinary. Or maybe God was saying to Elijah “You were afraid of a girl; let me teach you about the fear of the Lord.” Either way, the scripture says God “was not in” any of those. Rather, Elijah heard God in the sound of a low whisper. Actually, I like it in the NRSV: Elijah heard God in the sound of sheer silence.
Dallas Willard said, “Silence is frightening because it strips us as nothing else does, throwing us upon the stark realities of our life. God can choose to use divine fireworks or solitude and silence to get the message across to His chosen knuckleheads. Either way we experience Him and reality rubs us raw. Most recently, I’ve experienced the sheer silence that speaks like thunder. I’ve experienced the solitude that makes the decibel levels of my heart increase, my thoughts screaming rather than steadily whirring. And sometimes I hear God speak and feel His presence. And sometimes, I’m stuck with just me. Either way “it’s purposeful in God’s hands when we respond like Elijah.”
Elijah “wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. There came a voice to him… I don’t want to read anything into that statement or over-spiritualize an ordinary chill, so I’m just giving my opinion here… not teaching. Elijah’s mantle was used a number of times, most often (it seems to me) as a symbol of authority. It was used a lot like Moses’ staff. We all know that Moses held the staff, but the authority was God’s. I believe it to be the same with Elijah’s mantle. And here I see a sweet picture of submission. Despite hs continued insistence that he was the lone prophet, Elijah wrapped God’s authority around himself. And then he heard God speak. I like the picture even if I’ve stretched to interpret it. It speaks to my heart in my solitude, in my self-pity, loneliness, self-importance, and even in my shame at times. His authority is my security blanket. I can speak my mind boldly, but in the end, His voice comes and I wrap myself in His sovereign Lordship over me and walk forward in His will.
At first I kicked against my solitude. Loneliness can usurp an unprepared heart and fill it with self. Solitude can become a self-imposed prison. It’s amazing how resourceful we can be in our search to fill silence. Let me count the ways (they are quite munerous.) In some sense, I think I resented the means God used to bring me here. Like Elijah, I expected a different result. After all, I was obedient, wasn’t I? Shouldn’t fire from heaven, repentance, and refreshing rain have followed? [picture sheepish grin] I can be a smug little pouter. O one ever expects a “wanted” poster when they obey. But now I’m slowly getting the lesson. I’ve been the clay shouting out orders at the Potter from the wheel. My eldest son said something in passing the other day, but God pricked my heart with it. Paraphrased he said, “I just decided it’s what I’ve been given for now and to let God use it for His purpose.” Simply profound. Maybe I’ve been given a divine “time out”. Solitude and silence for the purpose of course correction. Running on empty, full of self, I actually ran to the Mount of God. I’ve grown small and quiet. My resentment has melted into pliable resolve. I’m striving to rest on the wheel. For now, it’s what I’ve been given and I intend to remain snuggly wrapped in His mantle of authority until He moves me on from here. No more running on empty.
Copyright 2009 Sharon Denise Dorminy
