Why Have You Come?

“What are you doing here Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9b)

Why did Elijah go to Mt. Horeb? What was the point of the wind, earthquake and fire? Why did God ask Elijah the same question twice and why did Elijah answer Him the same way twice? Walk in Elijah’s dusty sandals for just a moment.

You have put yourself in harms way by challenging the king’s prophets of Baal, you have seen God’s mind-blowing display of power, you have executed the judgment of the Lord upon those prophets, you have angered the Queen and she has put a price on your head. So after a tremendous experience with God you find yourself running for your life.

Where do you go when you feel like life is caving in on you? What might you be feeling? Hurt? Discouraged? Disillusioned? Just a little disappointed in God?

Have you ever felt that way? I have. I remember a falling out I had with a friend years ago. I was mad. I was angry about the situation, feeling I had been wronged. Abandoned. This was a relationship I believed the Lord had gifted to me in my life and it was exploding at a time I needed it the most.

Elijah’s circumstances are certainly overwhelming. He is discouraged. He sits down in the desert and just wants to die. But even in his disillusioned and probably disappointed state, he goes to where he believes he will find God. Mt. Horeb is the same place as Mt. Sinai, God’s Holy Mountain, where God appeared to Moses.

In his desperation, at his lowest point, and even though it takes him 40 days to get there, Elijah runs to God.

God meets Elijah there and asks him “What are you doing here Elijah?” Elijah answers “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.“

Elijah answers with just a little A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E. After all, he has had 40 days to stew on this turn of events and Elijah knows that God knows all. So imagine if you will – “Oh come on Lord – you know why I’m here. Why are you even asking for crying out loud? I did what you asked. No one has listened. They’ve all abandoned me. They are even trying to kill me now – thank you very much!” There was a temper tantrum brewing and God responded with a major attitude adjustment.

God did not cajole Elijah. God did not pamper Elijah. God overwhelmed Elijah.

The Creator of the wind, the earth and the fire displayed His majesty before Elijah. Elijah’s perspective had gotten a little out of whack and he was wallowing in self-pity. The wind, earthquake, and fire reminded Elijah of the sovereignty of God and that nothing happens without His knowledge. Elijah’s circumstances do not change, but his perspective does.

In the quiet of his relationship with the Lord, came the question a second time in a gentle whisper. “What are you doing here Elijah?”

Elijah answers as he did before, but instead of petulance and sarcasm, Elijah reveals his hurt and discouragement. “Oh Lord, (big sigh) I’m here because I can’t go anywhere else and I know this is where you are. I’ve been faithful to you, yet my own people are trying to kill me. I’m the only one left Lord.”

Why can we believe his second response is different than his first? Because God’s response to him changed. Instead of sending an attitude adjustment, God speaks encouragement, provision, and direction. Elijah – you are not alone. There are 7000 others who have remained faithful. And, I’m giving you Elisha to journey with you from now on. Now, go and do.…

I had a bad attitude about what had happened between my friend and me when I went to the Lord with it. I felt justified and wronged and my journal testifies that I unloaded a fair amount of petulant self-pity on God. I was not in any place to really hear Him speak his truth. I don’t remember what God used to get my attention (it was not as overwhelming as an earthquake!), but I do know it took a little doing to get my perspective back in line with His. I also know that when we got there, in the quiet of our time together, the Lord gave me exactly what I needed in His Word – words of comfort and words of “go do” – just like He did for Elijah.

Where do you run when you are at your low place? Elijah teaches us to run to God, no matter how long it takes us to get there. God is going to ask us Why are you here? And if we have arrived with an out of whack perspective, Elijah teaches us that God loves us enough to send an adjustment our way. God is big enough to handle our petulance, sarcasm and even our unbelief. Not only can He take it, He can change it. Elijah teaches us that it will be in the quiet of our relationship with the Lord that we will hear His voice speak His love, His provision, and His encouragement into our circumstances.

What do you need to run to God with? Why have you come?