This was the question that God asked Elijah in 1 Kings 19:13.” Why are you here?”
Let’s backtrack a bit- Elijah had just witnessed God’s fire fall upon 500 prophets of Baal. Elijah had run away from Ahab and Jezabel. Ahab blamed Elijah for the death of his 500 prophets. His wife Jezabel sent a message to Elijah saying “You killed my prophets. Now I’m going to kill you! I pray that the Gods will punish me even more severely if I don’t do it by this time tomorrow.” (1 Kings 19:1-18)
Elijah was afraid when he got her message, and he ran to the town of Beersheba in Judah. He left his servant there, then walked another whole day into the desert. Finally, he came to a large bush and sat down under its shade. He begged the Lord, “I’ve had enough. Just let me die! I’m no better off than my ancestors.” Then he lay down in the shade and fell asleep. Then an angel woke him up and said, “Get up and eat.” Elijah looked around, and by his head was a jar of water and some baked bread. He sat up, ate and drank, the lay down and went back to sleep. Soon the Lord’s angel woke him again and said, “Get up and eat, or else you’ll be too tired to travel.” So, Elijah sat up and ate and drank. The food and water made him strong enough to walk 40 more days. At last, he reached Mount Sinai, the mountain of God, he spent the night there in a cave. While Elijah was on Mount Sinai, the Lord asked, “Elijah, why are you here?” verse 9
He answered Lord God All-Powerful, I’ve always done my best to obey You. But your people have broken their solemn promise to you. They have torn down your altars and killed all your prophets, except me. And now they are even trying to kill me!”
“Go out and stand on the mountain, ” the Lord replied. ” I want you to be there when I pass by.” verse 11
All at once, a strong wind shook the mountain and shattered the rocks. But the Lord was not in the wind. Next, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. Then there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. Finally, there was a gentle breeze, and when Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his coat. He went out and stood at the entrance to the cave.
A voice asked, “Elijah, why are you here?” In verse 14, Elijah simply repeated everything that he had told the Lord the first time God had asked. That people were disobedient to the Lord and he feared for his life. The Lord said: “Elijah, you can go back to the desert near Damascus. And when you get there, appoint Hazael to be king of Syria. (Verse 16) Then appoint Jehu, son of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat to take your place as my prophet. Hazreal will start killing the people who worship Baal. Jehu will kill those who escape from Hazreal, Elisha will kill those who escape from Jehu. But 7000 Israelites have refused to worship Baal, and they will live. (verse 18)
So, Elijah went and did what the Lord had told him to do. God was telling him to do this and Elijah, without fear went out and obeyed God. He had originally hid in the cave because he feared for his life. God had even called him out of the cave, (God knew why he was there), into tumultuous winds, earthquake and fire, despite all of those scary things he witnessed, Elijah still walked to the mouth of the cave where all those things were happening –why? Because he had heard God’s still small voice, he heard his voice and fear left him.
God speaks to us everyday here are some ways he speaks to us:
-When He speaks, as He did for Elijah
-He speaks through His word
-His messengers, as with Elijah God sent an angel to give him food and water and encourage him on his way.
-His prophets, as He did through Elijah and will continue to do through Elisha
-He speaks through His miracles
Why was God passing by? Because He was making His presence known to Eljah. God has quiet, personal, and often unexpected ways of guiding, directing and comforting His servants. We must listen and believe He is there with us, and His presence is always with us. Why was Elijah there? I believe because God knew where Elijah had gone and the state of mind He was in, and God met Him there. There is no place that we can go where God does not know “Why you are there, His presence is always with us, sometimes our emotions get in the way of listening to His voice and sensing, or believing that His presence is always with us.
There are so many more things we could discuss here, but if you reading this, have never asked Jesus to be Lord of your life, don’t wait another minute. Just pray, Lord I ask you to forgive me of all my sins, I believe that you died for me, and rose again, so that I may have eternal life. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit, have your Spirit lead and guide my life, and I will rise again one day just as you have done for all of us!
Why am I here? To give you all the glory!