But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “ Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. Isaiah 43: 1, NKJV.
Dear God, our souls are always refreshed when we hear a Word from You. When You call us, help us to respond to Your call. Then please use us to Your name’s honor and glory. This we ask in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Today our devotional is based on the prophet Elijah, considered one of the most powerful, and dramatic, of God’s prophets, for his amazing display of faith in the only true God, YHWH, in the unforgettable episode on top of Mount Carmel. His faith is also seen as he bravely approaches the nefarious Ahab, and tells him that he and his sinful household were the cause of God’s displeasure, and of the drought from which the people of Israel were suffering. Who but Elijah would dare to kill the” four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah,who eat at Jezebel’s table” (18: 19b), and incur the wrath of the wicked queen!
However, it was not at the height of his prowess that God called Elijah by name; it was at his lowest moment. (In a previous devotional I dealt with some aspects of God’s dealings with Elijah during this time of depression). This faithful, and brave, man of God, had been used single-handedly, by the Sovereign of the universe, to display His power and authority over every false god. When thinking of Elijah, two aspects of his character comes to my mind: his faith, first and foremost. But also his spiritual pride, ” ‘ “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” ‘ ” (1 Kings 19: 10, 14). Emphasis supplied. To us it might appear to be boasting on behalf of the prophet. But how many of us would have attempted what he did, if we thought that we were alone? I am so glad that God does not lose sight of any aspect of our lives!
Aren’t you glad that we serve a personal God? One who calls us by our names when we need to hear it the most? Some adults, remembering their childhood, have said that they always knew when they were in trouble. Mom or dad would call them by their full names, middle name included! How amazing is our Heavenly Parent, He does just the opposite, when we are feeling our worst, when we are preferring death over life, “And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers” (4b). When we are so depressed that we have to be invited to “‘“Arise and eat” (5b, 7), because all we would rather do is sleep (5a). When we prefer the darkness of a cave (9a) to the sunlight – When we are running for our lives (3a) – It is then, that He will find us, and remind us, not only who we are are – but Whose we are.
“[A]nd behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, ‘ “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ‘ (9b). When fear and discouragement have taken their toll on us, when we feel that we cannot t go another mile, when all seems lost and we begin to ask ourselves, “What is the purpose of my life, anyway?” “Why did I make all of these sacrifices?” What do I have to show for all that I have done?” God will call us out of the darkness of discouragement, into the sunlight of spiritual splendor! He will remind us of our victories.
“Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD” (11a). Elijah needed to go out “on the mountain” and recapture the vision of the One who had used him to gain that singular victory on Mount Carmel. He needed a reminder of God’s power (11b-12a). But He also needed to know, that even when all the “fire” and the thundering is past, God will still be there, “and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave” (12b, 13a).
It is then that He will call you and me by our names, “Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, ‘ “What are you doing here, Elijah” ‘ (13b). Emphasis supplied. And He will inform us of the glorious future He has in store for us, “Then the LORD said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place” (15, 16).
Isn’t God good? We will continue.