THE STORY OF ELIJAH – 1 Kings 19:9–12, 15–16, 18 – There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks 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 the sound of a low whisper. …
And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. … Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
After King Solomon’s death, things went poorly for God’s people. The nation split into two rival kingdoms. The people were increasingly threatened by outside armies and misled by idolatrous kings. God’s promise—to send a different kind of king—was never taken back. But as one wicked king after another claimed the throne, the promise became impossible for most to remember. And for those who did remember, it became difficult to believe.
There were certain people, however, that remembered. Like torches burning through a long night, these people kept the light of God’s promise alive. They pleaded with God’s people to hope in God’s promises. They held a light up to the darkness of idolatry and injustice, calling for every wrong to be made right. Their reward for this faithfulness, more often than not, was persecution, isolation, and death.
They were known as the prophets.
Elijah was a prophet, and even though his life was characterized by miracle after miracle, he found it difficult to cling to hope. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah experienced a great victory: Challenging the idolatrous royals, Ahab and Jezebel, as well as the prophets of Baal, Elijah prayed to God for fire—and God answered.
Immediately afterwards, however, Elijah descended into a dark night of the soul. Running for his life from Jezebel, he convinced himself that he was the only faithful one left. “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts,” he said. And where had it gotten him? “I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:10). You can hear his despondency: I’ve done everything right, and I’m still alone. God, where are you?
So how did God respond? In a word, gently. God was not in the strong wind or in the earthquake or even in (his favorite) the fire. He was in the low whisper.
And what did God whisper to Elijah? Hope is not dead. You are not alone. And I am not done using you.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve needed God to tell me this. More than Elijah heard it. More than I’ve asked for it. Frankly, more than I can remember.
Can you relate to Elijah’s dark night of the soul? You once had great hopes of being used by God. But something happened. Perhaps you tried something difficult—and failed. Perhaps you were wronged. Perhaps circumstances conspired against you. For whatever reason, your once bright hopes have nearly been snuffed out.
What God said to Elijah he says to you: Hope is not dead. You are not alone. And I am not done using you.
Jesus entered the pages of history at another moment when hope seemed lost. At Christmas, we sing, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining.” What changes that? What brings hope to a world like this?
“Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.”1
Jesus’ birth reminds us that when God is at work, even a glimmer of hope is enough to make a weary world rejoice.
Meditate:
God gave Elijah hope by reminding him of his presence in the midst of difficulty. Another prophet, Isaiah, spoke similar words of hope:
But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” – Isaiah 43:1–2
Spend a few moments imagining God himself speaking these words directly to you.
