June 30,2019 Third Sunday after Pentecost

“9 ¶ And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 So he said, “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.” 11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 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. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because 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.” 15 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. 16 “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. 17 “It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 19 ¶ So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.” (1Kings 19:9-21 NKJV)

There is a saying, “Serve no whine before its time.” But in truth Elijah is not whining but is tired, not just to the bone but to his soul! It would be easy for us to think Elijah would be energized and strengthened by all the miracles God has done through Elijah but we can become “weary in well doing”.

We can see Elijah’s burden in his answer to God’s question: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

I have done what you wanted me to do. Weariness will come if we try “do” what wants us to do. We must not only obey God but depend on God’s presence and support. God’s call for EVERY Christian is revealed in Matthew chapter 28 and if we are humble and honest we are unable to accomplish. God’s call is a reminder we need God if we are to “do” God’s call.

I am alone God. It is easy to cut ourselves off from others when we are weary and heavy laden. We not only need God but also each other joining together if we are to live out God’s call. I, like many, have discovered the folly of trying to serve God by myself and missing the strength and support we need.

I am afraid! Fear is not optional! Those who say they are not afraid just do not see what is going on around them. We live in a broken world where murder, rape, greed, lust and hatred not only surround us but are within us. Some evil is personal and some is institutional. We should be afraid!

It is easy to forget strength, courage and endurance like muscles are of limited ability and duration. A strong person can become weak, a courageous person can become a coward and even those who endure can come to a wall and crash. We may call them failures but in reality they are human. But Elijah is reminded the Infinite God works in and through finite living people.

God’s response is to reveal Himself to Isaiah in a way which is amazing in itself. The kindness and gentleness of God is so touching. God asking “What are you doing here, Elijah?” is an echo of “Adam, where are you?” God knows the answer but wants us to know He desires us even in our sin and failure!

God’s solution is to call the re-energized Elijah back to service in preparation for the rest which can only come from seeing the face of God. Elijah offers God’s call to Elisha who will take up his mantle. There is still so much ahead for Elijah and God prepares for the call to Israel and for a ministry yet to come!