TO CHEW ON: "Then the Lord said to him, 'Go back the way you came. . . .'” 1 Kings 19:15
When Elijah came to Mount Horeb, he found a cave in which to sleep. That night God spoke to him. “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
“I’ve done my best for You,” Elijah replied. “But the Israelites have turned their backs on You. They’ve broken your altars and killed your prophets. I’m the only one left. Now they’re trying to kill me too.”
“Come outside,” God told him. “I want to show you something.”
As Elijah stood outside the cave, a powerful wind came up, shaking the trees and loosening rocks so they came tumbling down. But Elijah didn’t hear God in the wind. Suddenly the earth underneath him began shaking. But Elijah didn’t hear God in the earthquake. Then he saw fires burning around him. But God wasn’t in the fires either.
Finally Elijah heard a quiet voice. He recognized it. It was God. Again God asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Again Elijah explained how hard he’d worked for God, but how it hadn’t done any good.
Then God answered him. What did He say? Which one thing, below, did God NOT tell Elijah (1 Kings 19:15-18):
1. God told him to go back the way he came.
2. God gave Elijah some new jobs to do.
3. God explained why things had turned out the way they had.
4. God gave Elijah some facts about how many of God’s people were really left in Israel.
Though Elijah felt like a failure, God, Who saw the whole picture, knew that he wasn’t. After showing Elijah his power in the wind, earthquake and fire, God showed Elijah He still trusted him and had more things for him to do. He gave Elijah some new jobs and sent him back to work.
PRAYER: Dear God, Thank You for using people to accomplish what You want to do. Please use me. Amen.
MORE: Hearing God
Though God showed His power in the wind, earthquake and fire, Elijah heard God speak in a quiet voice.
1. Has God ever spoken to you?
2. Where did you hear Him?
____ through Bible words?
____ through the words of a song?
____ through the words of a friend?
____ through the words of a pastor or teacher?
____ through a book?
____ through nature?
____ through a parent?
_________________ other ways?
3. What did He say?
Make a habit of listening to God. He may tell you that He loves you. He may tell you that He understands you. He may give you ideas on how to handle your problems. He may remind you to pray for a friend in trouble.
If God tells you to do something, be as quick as Elijah to obey His words.
Answers
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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