Made for More: Part TwoSample

Elijah

The prophet Elijah is often remembered as the last prophet of God at his time. Elijah was led to speak truth to the people of Israel after a long run of leaders who continually disobeyed and disregarded the voice of God. During the reign of King Ahab and Jezebel, worshiping idols became a norm. Ahab and Jezebel chose to worship the idol Baal instead of God, leading many Israelites astray from following God. 

God called Elijah to take some of the boldest, most vulnerable steps in the face of authority and significant opposition. While Elijah was undoubtedly bold, he faced moments where he feared his life and times he was not confident he could carry out God’s purpose for him. Even in his obedience and bravery, there was MORE COURAGE that God wanted to instill within Elijah. 

God led Elijah to tell King Ahab he was about to dry the land. God would stop the rain for years, not even allowing dew for the crops to grow until Elijah gave King Ahab the word, leading the nation into a great famine. After Elijah relayed the word, God told him to run and hide, bringing Elijah to MORE SOLITUDE. In challenging moments in life, we can tend to be so riveted on performing and overcoming obstacles all on our own. But often our strength, our minds, bodies, and spirits are simply desperate for MORE SOLITUDE with God. We can even tend to be resistant when God is probing us to hide away with him. We always need time with God each day, but some seasons will require intensified times alone to listen more clearly to the voice of God and bind ourselves more closely to him. 

In this solitude, God provided for Elijah keeping him safe from harm. Elijah also experienced MORE DEPENDENCE on God. While Elijah was in hiding, he was able to depend on God for protection, provision, and guidance entirely. The Lord led Elijah to a brook for water, and in the mornings and evenings, he would send ravens with meals of bread and meat (1 Kings 17:5-6). Leaning on God, particularly even for our basic needs, can be a humbling experience, but it is possibly the most raw and immediate way for God to show us we can completely depend on him. 

After the ravens provided food for Elijah for some time, he came across a widow on his journey in Zarephath (1 Kings 17:7-24). He asked the widow if she had food, but she had only a small amount of flour and a bit of olive oil left in a jug for her family. Elijah told her if she made a small loaf of bread for him to eat and some for her and her children, the Lord would see to it the oil wouldn’t run dry and her flour would be full until the famine was over. Just as God had said, the jug and flour were always brimming over, and her family never went hungry. 

We can forget that our dependence on God impacts the faith of those around us. Even in our struggle to depend on God, we are testifying to God’s powerful provision. Because Elijah had been provided for and knew God would be faithful, he could show the widow that her whole family could depend on God. 

When Elijah returned to the land of Ahab, he confronted the king once more. Elijah challenged Ahab to a contest at Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:16-46), for both the prophets of Baal and Elijah to offer a sacrificed bull and see whose God could bring down fire. When the prophets of Baal, all 450 of them, cried out to their gods for fire, nothing happened. But the moment Elijah asked God, he brought down fire, destroying the entire area surrounding the sacrifice. Elijah then prayed for rain and God sent rain. Elijah proceeded to kill all 450 prophets of Baal. When Jezebel heard Elijah had killed the prophets, she threatened to kill him and Elijah fled for fear of his life. 

Elijah ran to hide, this time not through God’s prompting. After traveling forty days and forty nights, God brought Elijah MORE OF HIS VOICE. God said, “Elijah, what are you doing here?” (1 Kings 19:9). After Elijah responded, still in fear for his life and doubting whether he was up to all God had asked him to do, God sent strong winds, an earthquake, and fire. God spoke clearly to Elijah to strengthen him for the work still ahead of him. When we can stop long enough to recognize it and when we can pause quietly to acknowledge its power, the voice of God has the might and strength to see us through that which we cannot push through on our own. 

While Elijah was bold enough to face the king and the 450 prophets, and to fight on his own, his confidence wasn't deepened and solidified until he received strength from God. Sometimes we want to throw in the towel, at times even doing “God’s work” through our own power and in our way. But as Elijah showed us, when we can begin to listen more readily to the voice of God and find a deeper dependence on him, we, too, can come to discover MORE CONFIDENCE in Christ.