What Doest Thou Here?
By Patricia Jackson
McDowell County
Many of the great men and women of the Bible were not the kings or priests but prophets. They were messengers for God who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. In 1 Kings 16, we find King Ahab and his wife Jezebel did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all of Israel’s Kings that were before them. They had replaced all of God’s worship with the false Canaanite idol, Baal.
God sent Elijah to King Ahab to denounce the worship of idols and bring divine judgment in the form of a drought for three years. God provided food and safety for Elijah during the three years. God once again sends his prophet Elijah to King Ahab. The prophets of Baal were not successful in ending the drought, but Elijah was. The rains fell, and Israel once again recognizes”The Lord, He is God.” Elijah killed the prophets of Baal. When Jezebel heard what Elijah had done, she sent a messenger, threatening to end his life by the next day.
How quickly Elijah forgot the recent victory over the false prophets, the ending of the drought, and God’s protective hand. He ran for his life! Once again, God provided him food and protection. After forty days and nights, he came to a cave near Mount Horeb and hid. Elijah physically broke fellowship with God when he allowed his fear to overcome him. He had forgotten who he was in Christ. But God had not forgotten Elijah! God appears at the cave and spoke: “What doest thou here, Elijah?”. God knew the answer, but he wanted Elijah to unburden his heart freely.
There may be times in our life when we find ourselves in a place like Elijah—perhaps discouraged, defeated. Maybe we used to be prayer warriors, read our Bible daily, witness to others, and now we no longer find time for the things of God. Perhaps we have become discouraged, defeated, and retreated to a dark place in our minds. If God were to appear to us and ask us the same question, what would our answer be?.
If you find yourself alone, away from God, fearful or depressed, remember God always knows where we are. 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and of a sound mind.” God will keep us in perfect peace if our mind stays on him.
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Patricia Jackson is the Assistant Teacher for the Ladies Class at Redeemed Free Will Baptist Church, Glenwood, NC. She is a grant writer for non-profits, a published author and retired Nursing Home Administrator. She lives in Rutherford County with her husband. Contact information: email address: wyo2go@bellsouth.net.
You can read more good Christian news from Patricia HERE.
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