Thinking upon cave experiences one would think of a cold dark dreary place, but in Elijah’s story it is a sort of refuge, a place to find rest and safety. A prophet in his time Elijah was sure he was the only one left and those who rejected God were trying to kill him. Yet in the moment of stillness came the voice of the Lord.
(1 Kings 19:9-18 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”)
The Lord is rendering and preserving a people who will also not bow down to Baal’s of this generation. God is seeking a people set apart for His work and those who will do His will. Are we ready to go and reach out to those around us and share the good news of faith. Are we like Elijah at times, hiding in a cave and not stepping out to hear the voice of the Lord.
At times we may want to hide in a cave and spend a night just to rest, but there is so much more to life than being a cave dweller. Its time to take hold of Gods promises, stand firm, press on and believe for the best. God is preparing a people for His work… Will you stand today and pray? Believe for the best!!! God is Able!