Leaving the Cave

“Elijah came there to a cave and lodged there…the Word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” 1 Kings 19:9

Elijah couldn’t get further away from his life and finally found a cave in which to lie down. There is so much application in this one exchange between him and God. Elijah was not only running from Queen Jezebel but was also running from God. Elijah detoured from walking in the light to sitting in the dark. His desire for everything that used to bring him joy and purpose was gone. His perception and focus were squarely rooted in his circumstances instead of his faith. But like us, Elijah couldn’t run and hide from God. God was not about to leave Elijah in the self-assigned cold, damp, and lonely cave. God knew it would take courage for him to come out of the dark and face the light. God knew that Elijah would need reminders that even within the intimidating and heartbreaking circumstances of life, God remained in the small still voice to bring him back into the engagement of life. And so, in God’s great love for His servant, he posed this question, ’What are you doing here?’

‘Divine inquiries are never for our Father’s benefit; He poses them with the intention of helping us see the truth of our situation…be honest with ourselves…’ Elijah – Faith and Fire, Priscilla Shirer, p. 204. When devastation finds us in this life, there is no place we can run…detour…hide where God is not with us. If we have His Spirit inside of us, God is wherever our feet and hearts take us. God poses questions to us during the most difficult life events to re-engage us with Him. When we lift our tear-stained faces up and meet His gaze, He asks ‘What are you doing here?’ He asks out of deep love and concern for us instead of any condemnation of us. He wants to help us realign our feelings with His promises. But He will always require us to take that first courageous step out of the dark cave and into His light. He will give us the courage and strength required to leave the loneliness and step into new life. He will readjust our focus to set our vision once more on Him. ‘Elijah had become a shell of whom he once was. Faith had taken a back seat to fear. Hope had been overshadowed by hopelessness.’ p. 207.

What are you doing here? God wants to re-engage…to bring light into your darkness…to give you the courage to step out and return to life. ‘God has all the time in the world. He can wait us out and lovingly, carefully probe us by His Spirit and through His Word until we see Him and His perspective more clearly.’ p. 209.