There is nothing we can do on our own to ensure the outcome of our lives. Nothing we can do to secure our salvation into everlasting life. Nothing we can do by ourselves to secure power, authority ... or even signs and wonders ... not even walking in the prophetic ... not even abstinence or spiritual warfare or compliance or non compliance.
There is only one Way.
One Life!
I have a few favourite stories pointing straight to Jesus, Yah'shua Himself. One of them happens to be the story of Elijah, the guy whose name means Elohim is Yahveh or God is YHVH.
Today I share this incredible story of this great prophet on the run.
Elijah on the run
Let me start just as Ahab, the shameful king of Israel conveys the story to his wicked wife Jezebel of how the prophet Elijah had just completely outdone all 400 pagan Baal prophets in the ultimate contest of calling on their gods to show themselves by fire. Elijah totally annihilated them.
The Baal gods had miserably failed their prophets who had called out to them day and night. They prayed and fasted and screamed. They performed self-mutilation rituals, lacerating themselves, beating themselves and consuming themselves before gods that did not even exist.
So, Elijah called upon the only living God there is, YHVH to devour the sacrifice he prepared. YHVH not only consumed the sacrifice, but also the altar with its stones drenched in water, along with it. The magnitude of people, observing this spectacle then started chanting and confessing: "יהוה, he is the Elohim; יהוה, he is the Elohim."1Ki 18:39
As all this concluded, Elijah told Ahab that he needed to get into his chariot and speed back to Jerusalem because of an expected downpour. (Before the challenge Elijah had stopped rain from falling for years, except on his command)
Whilst king Ahab sped off in his chariot Elijah girded up his loins and with the strength of God, physically out-ran the thoroughbred speed-machines pulling on Ahab’s chariot. Incredible!
In retrospect all that happened here is the greatest display of power and victory any prophet could ever hope for in his life. But shortly afterwards, Elijah finds himself running again.
Enters Fear
When fear struck, Elijah wished that he was dead.
Having heard of this astronomical triumph, Jezebel sends Elijah a crappy message that she would kill him just the same as was done to her incompetent prophets when he, Elijah had executed them at the Kishon brook.
Fear.
Fear got hold of the most powerful prophet of his time and he fled.
You know how the story unfolds, but I want to get to the part where Elijah had a true encounter with God on the mountain.
Encountered again
Hiding in a cave, God comes to Elijah and asks him why he is hiding. Elijah’s reply is one of doubt and unbelief, of defeat and uncertainty, of self-sorrow and pity.
So, God tells Elijah to go onto the mountain to get a better revelation and disclosure of YHVH.
Apparently Elijah was accustomed to a full display of God's might and power. He witnessed all the miracles and wonders that go before God. He had even taken up his God-given authority with the Baal prophets and Ahab, but now he was going to get thoroughly acquainted with God. Elijah was about to experience how God much rather fills and abides and comforts and establishes rest …
So now … alone on the mountain …
And after the earthquake a fire; but יהוה was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 1Ki 19:12
He witnesses the power of the elements announcing the presence of YHVH ... but strangely, God is not to be found in any of these. Even these overwhelming powerful signs and miracles can not contain the living God who desires to be contained within man himself.
He doesn't find God in a display
YHVH was not in the wind: ruach or רוּח - breath or spirit of the earth; ecstasy; energy that tore the mountains apart (remember this is what Jesus empowered us with? However, He is not in the earthly cast down mountain. He is not in the miracle. He IS the Miracle! Mat 17:20).
YHVH was not in the earthquake: ra‛ash or רעשׁ - the shaking; the rattling; quivering that shook the whole earth.
YHVH was not in the fire: 'êsh or אשׁ - the flame; the fire; the destruction (interestingly the word-picture for fire is: the power that consumes.
So many times in our denominational churches have we been taught that God is to be found in these signs and wonders.
The true encounter!
But then Elijah intimately encounters the God Who abides within, the still H1827 small H1851 voice H6963, the God Who is meek and lowly by heart where you find eternal rest. (Matthew 11:29).
Still: demâmâh or דּממה - the calming; the whisper; the quietness with the word-picture: pathway by the ultimate blood (double מ) to Grace!
Small: daq or דּק - the crushed; the lowered; the made small with the word-picture: pathway to the mind (heart). Was it not God (Jesus) Who lowered Himself and manifested in the likeliness of human flesh to be crushed on our behalf so that He could establish Himself in our hearts and in our minds ultimately to bring about the most intimate of relationships?
God is in the pathway made by His blood to establish Himself in us - what a relationship!
It doesn't come about by some sort of violent display or sign or reaction. It comes by a mere whisper of His Word, Jesus!
The Voice pictures Himself
When Elijah hears this, what does he do?
... he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice H6963 unto him 1Ki 19:13
He humbles himself.
He goes forth.
He stands at the entrance of the cave, fearless of what is behind him and even what is ahead.
And get this.
... and he focuses on the voice or qôl or קל - the pictograph is this: the shepherd inside the mind (heart).
The Person can not be mistaken!
He is the peaceful, crushed Shepherd that abides within!
Can I just say: WoW!
Can I just say: HalleluYAH!
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