As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to hunt for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath from the kingdom or nation that they could not find you. 1 Kings 18:10.
Dear God, we thank You for never leaving us nor forsaking us! May we live constantly aware of the fact, that “[You are] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Thank you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Is it not wonderful to know, that as a child of the King, we are never, ever, outside of God’s radar? tThe thought just thrills my soul!
Here is Elijah, a prophet of the Only True God, on an assignment for God. And here is this human being, a very unworthy human being (not that any of us are worthy), has posted a Reward around the country that anyone knowing his whereabouts should report it to the king or turn him in and get the reward (Author’s imagination at work)! The king was so bent on laying hold on the man of God, that entire towns were put under oath, if they said they had not seen him.
Because of the deplorable spiritual condition of God’s people at that time, I would not have been surprised if any of the town folk had turned him in. After all, people would rather live their lives the way they want to live them without a puritan prophet encouraging them to put sin aside and seek the Lord!
It would seem that the man of God was living in the midst of a people whose attitude was, “Que Sera, Sera” (“whatever will be, will be”)! Notice how they reacted at first to Elijah on Mount Carmel: “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘ “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” ‘ But the people answered him not a word” ‘ “ (1 Kings 18:21. Emphasis provided). A people, apparently without an opinion. Whoever wins that is whose side we are on.
It was in the midst of these precarious conditions that God protected His servant for three and a half years! Nothing can hide us from God, but no one can find us when we are hid by God! This is what the psalmist had to say about God’s protective care:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. . . . For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion;In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:1-3, 5. Emphasis provided).
Here is another nugget of hope for those who are on an assignment for God:
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘ “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” ‘ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday” ‘ ” (Psalm 91:1-6).
This devotional is especially dedicated to those who are workers for God. For those whom your assignment is not a job, but a call. Do not be afraid! Whatever comes your way, God will take care of you. Your ministry is not over until God says so! And when He does, be ready and willing to go on to your new assignment. He will use your past and present experiences to prepare you for the next. And remember, with God, it is always, “higher ground!” So move on up, by the grace of God!
Read both Psalms in their entirety.