road2answers

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

The Suffering Servant

Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12[i]

When God speaks, we expect deep and powerful thoughts, piercing to even the dividing of joints and marrow or soul and spirit. (Hebrews 4:12)

When God speaks, we expect truth.

We have this with the Bible. It is obvious that it is no ordinary book.

Written by about 40 different authors over a span of 1,600 years, no book is even a close second for unity, depth of content and historical accuracy.

Some things contained in the Bible are so remarkable that those who oppose the Bible invent stories to explain them away. For example, Daniel accurately predicts the history of the Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman empires. Daniel was writing history before it happened. This is impossible. No man can foresee or foretell the future. However, Daniel did it accurately. Therefore, some people say that Daniel’s account was written after the events. They do this by rewriting history and contradicting historical evidence. The book of Daniel is not the only book of the Bible that contains such remarkable things. The Bible is full of remarkable things.

Is this not what we should expect when God speaks?

Isaiah 52:13 through Isaiah 53:12 is one of the most remarkable passages in the Bible. It is a portrait of Jesus. It is a brief description of His life, His purpose and His accomplishments. It is the most accurate and concise description of these things that we have, and it was written 700 years before Jesus was born.

In the Gospel Project curriculum, Adam Dooley likens Isaiah 53 to the Mt. Everest of the Bible.[ii] It is a majestic high point, perhaps the highest.

Isaiah reveals much about our Savior. He ministered in Judah during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. These four kings reigned over the kingdom of Judah. Jewish tradition holds that Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, executed Isaiah a few years after Manasseh ascended the throne. (Jewish tradition holds that Manasseh had Isaiah sawn in two, which would mean Hebrews 11:37 is referring to Isaiah.) This means Isaiah ministered over a period of approximately 50 years. Isaiah ministered during a time of political turmoil with Assyria becoming an ever-greater threat to his nation. His message was a call to trust in the Holy One of Israel. A large part of this call to trust was the promise of the Messiah. Because of this, some of our clearest and dearest prophesies concerning Jesus are found in Isaiah. For example, Isaiah 7:14 foretells the virgin birth of Jesus when it says: “The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” Isaiah 9:1-7 is magnificent prophecy of the coming kingdom and contains the famous verse 6, which says:

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah also contains four “Servant Songs.” These are songs or poems written about the Lord’s Servant. The Lord’s Servant in this case refers to the coming Messiah. These servant songs are found in Isaiah 42:1-4, 49:1-6, 50:4-9 and finally Isaiah 52:13 through 53. These songs describe Jesus and His ministry. They are as follows:

Chosen Servant, Isaiah 42:1-4

Commissioned Servant, Isaiah 49:1-6

Obedient Servant, Isaiah 50:4-9

Suffering Servant, Isaiah 52:13-53:12

These songs rise up to ever-increasing heights as they describe the ministry and life of the Lord Jesus. The song of the Suffering Servant is the pinnacle. It is the “Everest” of the prophesies concerning our Lord Jesus.

The Song of the Suffering Servant is divided into five sections. They are as follows:

1. My Servant shall be high and lifted up, exalted. 52:13-15

This section describes the high, exalted position of Jesus earned by making himself a voluntary sacrifice for sins.

2. He was despised and rejected by men. vs 2-3

This section describes the plain, humble beginning, life and place the Lord of Glory occupied when He lived among us.

3. The Lord laid on Him the iniquities of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6

This section describes how Jesus paid for our sins, and suffered in our place.

4. Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter. Isaiah 53:7-9

This section provides a picture of Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb of God, and shows the horrible injustice He suffered.

5. The will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:10-12

This section provides the conclusion. It tells of the success of Jesus’ ministry, His victory and His satisfaction.

He was despised and rejected.

It was our weaknesses he carried.

It was our sorrows that weighed him down.

He was pierced for our rebellion.

He was crushed for our sins.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

He had done no wrong.

He had never deceived anyone.

It was the Lord’s good plan to crush him.

I have friends who minister to Jewish people. God’s plans still include the Jewish people. The Church has not replaced the Jewish nation in God’s plans. The Apostle Paul explains this in Romans 11. As God’s chosen people, the Jewish people have as part of their heritage the Old Testament Scriptures. They were entrusted with the Law and the Prophets. Isaiah wrote and ministered to the Jewish people as a Jewish prophet to a Jewish nation. However, the friends I mentioned tell me of occasions where they read Isaiah 53 with a Jewish person. When asked who this passage is talking about the person will often recognize that it is talking about Jesus. Occasionally, the person does not recognize that the passage is from the Hebrew Scriptures, and is surprised to find that it is. Of course, religious Jews and scholars know this passage and have gone to some lengths to explain how this passage is not about Jesus. The point is the passage plainly talks about Jesus and clearly teaches His substitutionary atonement.

As part of this song, Isaiah 53:1 asks a two-part question. It says, “Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?”

Let’s try to answer the first part of the question.

In Isaiah’s day, some believed and some did not. He ministered for over 50 years and yet the nation did not turn, and it was not saved. In fact, Isaiah’s life ended when he was executed for his preaching. Obviously, not everyone believed.

In our day, it is much the same. In over 50 percent of the world, it is not safe or legal to preach Jesus Christ the way Isaiah 53 does. In 2010, 32 percent of the world called themselves Christian. This would mean that two thirds of the world does not accept the Christian worldview, the Bible as the Word of God and the fact that God has spoken. Even among Christians, many do not believe the Bible is the Word of God. It is possible to be Christian in name only. The doctrines that I teach are “evangelical.” This represents the beliefs of 13 percent of the world’s population.[iii] Therefore, let’s draw the line of those who have believed “our message” at somewhere between 10 and 30 percent. I do not believe that everyone who calls himself or herself “evangelical” believes, and I believe that many who do not call themselves “evangelical” are my brothers and sisters in Christ.

The answer to “Who has believed our message?” is, “Not many.”

Next, let’s consider the second part of Isaiah’s question.

“To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?”

This is an interesting question. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.” Therefore, since all humanity sees the skies, we can say in answer to this first question, “to everyone.” This is consistent with Romans 1 that tells us:

¹⁸But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. ¹⁹They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. ²⁰For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (Romans 1:18-20)

The truth about God is obvious. However, there is another point in Isaiah’s question. Let me repeat what he says, “To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?” The arm is a reference to strength. Psalm 19 in referring to the skies, the stars and all of creation says that these things display God’s craftsmanship. The Hebrew language in which David wrote the Psalm says, “the works of His hand.” This is why some translations say, “handiwork.” This is a reference to God’s skill and craftsmanship, not a display of His mighty power. Of course, the mighty expanse of space and the awesome power displayed in nature speak of power beyond our comprehension, but these awesome aspects of nature speak more of God’s skill. It is in relation to Jesus that God says He bares His arm and displays His power. This makes me think of Hebrews 2:3. It asks the question:

So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?

The God who displayed His handiwork by making Mt. Everest displays His power by telling us about Jesus 700 years before Jesus was even born. What is more, this is just one of many such displays of power. No plan of God’s can be thwarted. No purpose of His can be stopped. We should expect amazing things when God speaks, and this is exactly what we have.

If you and I have even a shadow of unbelief in our hearts, the words of Isaiah 53:1 should haunt us until we get right with God.

Who has believed our message?

To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?

[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

[iii] http://www.pewforum.org/2011/12/19/global-christianity-exec/

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

The Year Uzziah Died

Isaiah 6[i]

Uzziah died in approximately 742 B.C.

Uzziah was king in Jerusalem, ruling over the country of Judah. He was a descendant of David. However, in case one should think this made him perfect, he was also the great, great, great grandson of none other than Jezebel. But, that is a different story for a different time. Uzziah was the 10^th king of Judah after the nation of Israel divided.

Uzziah became king at the age of 16, and he reigned 52 years. The Bible says he did right in the eyes of the Lord, except he did not remove the high places and altars where people made sacrifices.

The Law of Moses was clear that there was to be one central place of worship for the whole nation. (Deuteronomy 12) This is one law that Uzziah did not adhere to nor did he enforce it as the ruler of his people.

The story of his reign is an amazing success story. He conquered the enemies surrounding his nation. He expanded the nation’s territory, and elevated the country to a position or regional power. When the Assyrians invaded the region, they conquered every nation in their path. However, Uzziah led a coalition of the surrounding nations and stopped the advance of the Assyrians. This historical campaign was one of the last things he did. He died before the Assyrians could retaliate.[ii]

There is a blot on his record. Uzziah was rich, powerful and successful, and the Scriptures tell us that he became proud. In his pride, he entered into the temple to burn incense, which was something that only the priests were to do. The high priest and 80 accompanying priests tried to stop the king, but he became furious with them. God intervened and leprosy instantly appeared on the forehead of Uzziah. Uzziah died a leper in isolation. In his last years, his son, Jotham, took charge of the palace and government, sharing the throne with his father.

Isaiah 6 records one of the great visions of the Bible. Isaiah 6:1 says, “It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.”

Isaiah dates this from the year King Uzziah died. Therefore, we know some of what was going on in Judah at that time. We know that the nation was prosperous. We know that they had a strong military. However, they were facing a dangerous enemy. Assyria was conquering the surrounding nations, and laying the foundations for what would become the Babylonian Empire and then later the Persian Empire. The Assyrians were a concern for everyone, even Egypt.

The Lord chose this time to show Himself to Isaiah.

The People of Judah were religious. They had the Temple of God and continued to offer daily sacrifices. However, God was not impressed with their sacrifices. In Isaiah 1 God gave this message concerning the people of Judah:

²Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth! This is what the LORD says: “The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me. ³Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care—but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them.” ⁴Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the LORD. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. (Isaiah 1:2-4)

God was not happy with them, and yet they continued to be prosperous and successful. Because of their success, they thought everything was okay, including their relationship with God.

In Isaiah 6:1, Isaiah says, “I saw the Lord.” He saw a sight that was so magnificent that his first response was, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man.” (Isaiah 6:5) When Moses saw the glory of God, his face shown for years afterward. For Isaiah, the sight was so glorious that even the angels present were covering their faces. Very few men in history have seen such a vision of God’s glory. In Moses’s case, it strengthened him and sustained him through many years of leading the people of Israel through the wilderness. In Isaiah’s case, it was to strengthen and sustain him through many years of preaching to a stubborn, obstinate people.

God told Isaiah to deliver this message to the people of Judah. He said:

“Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’ ¹⁰Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.” (Isaiah 6:9-10)

In John 12, Jesus quotes this text to explain the unbelief of the Jews. Even though they saw many miraculous signs, the Jews would not believe in Jesus.

Isaiah saw the glory of God, while a nation remained blind to that same glory. A mere handful out of thousands were able to see the glory of God in Jesus Christ when he walked this earth. John 1:10 says of Him, “He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.” In much the same way, although there were many prophets in Judah, Isaiah was the only one who saw this glorious vision of God.

Isaiah describes what he saw. He says, “He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.” The English Standard Version translates this “high and lifted up.” Isaiah does not describe God, but rather His throne. This is significant because God told Moses, “But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live." (Exodus 33:20) Isaiah was impressed with the lofty, majestic power of God. The first thing he describes is the exalted position of God.

In Isaiah 1, God had accused Judah of despising the Holy One of Israel. They had too low a view of God. Isaiah saw a lofty, exalted throne with God seated on it. The biggest mistake humanity makes is despising God. We tend to think too little of Him and too much of ourselves. It is crucial for us as individuals and as nations to remember who God is. In Deuteronomy 8, God warned Israel:

¹¹“But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. ¹²For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, ¹³and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! ¹⁴Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.

¹⁸Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful. (Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 18)

Uzziah demonstrated what pride does. He grew proud because of his success and then tried to enter into God’s presence on his terms rather than on God’s terms. He never entered the temple again, and died a leper.

We can know God, but the first and greatest hindrance to our entering into the knowledge of God is pride. How can we hold onto our pride when we see God on a lofty throne, high and lifted up?

Along with the throne, Isaiah saw mighty seraphim attending God. Each had six wings. With two wings, they covered their feet, with two, they covered their faces and with two, they flew. They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” (Isaiah 6:2-3)

The angels covering their faces is an indication of God’s glory, and covering their feet is an indication of God’s holiness. These mighty, heavenly beings continually proclaim God’s holiness. Throughout Scripture, we confront the holiness of God. God is holy beyond our ability to comprehend.

The dictionary definition of “Holy” according to Google is “dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred.” In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated holy means “set apart” or “separate.” In the New Testament, the Greek word translated holy means “set apart.” These meanings are consistent with the idea of dedication. However, when applied to God, dedication does not capture the meaning of “holy.” When we say God is holy, we mean that he is separate from His creation. He is entirely “other” than His creation. While God has created all things and sustains all things, He is not “all things.” He is separate, “other.” Another idea is captured in this separateness. His “separateness” also extends to His absolute purity. The Bible says, “God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.” (1 John 1:5) Light is another expression of God’s purity, His holiness. The brilliance of God’s holiness is why faces are always covered in His presence. Even the eyes of angels cannot bear to look upon the brilliant radiance of His glory, His holiness.

Overwhelmed by what he saw, Isaiah said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.” (Isaiah 6:5) Upon seeing God, Isaiah was painfully aware of his sinfulness. This is the effect of confronting God’s perfect holiness. The burning coal taken from the altar and touched to Isaiah’s lips burnt away the impurities. Without the intervention of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice to pay the price for our sins and purify us, we would all be consumed by the presence of God’s holiness just as fire consumes a moth.

However, pride keeps us from acknowledging sin. Isaiah was called to confront this problem in Judah. They did not acknowledge that they were sinful. Jesus confronted this problem on the streets of Jerusalem. They did not acknowledge they were sinful. We confront this problem in our own lives.

Even Christians, who are saved by faith and cleansed of their sins by the blood of Christ, often will not admit their sins. 1 John 1:8 warns us, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.”

God showed Isaiah a vison of His own majesty and holiness in order to make Isaiah aware of his people’s sin of pride.

Through Isaiah’s record, God confronts our pride. God still speaks. Isaiah’s vision still lives. How do we respond? Do we, like Isaiah, say, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man.” Or, do we, like Judah, harden our hearts?

Why not be reconciled to God today?

Why not call on His name and receive His cleansing?

1 John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

[ii] Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, 1966.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Our Expectations

2 Kings 5[i]

Leprosy terrorized humanity for millennia. Before the age of antibiotics, leprosy was untreatable, incurable and terminal. The disease started with skin lesions and insensitivity of the body’s extremities (fingers, toes and such), and progressed to disfigurement and death.

Today, leprosy is considered curable and although approximately 180,000 cases exist in the world, it is considered rare. In 2015, 63 cases of leprosy were diagnosed in the United States.[ii]

In 1873, a doctor, named G. H. Armauer Hansen, discovered the bacterium that is the cause of leprosy. As a result, the disease is now also known as “Hansen’s Disease.”[iii]

The bacterium that causes leprosy can live in a person’s body for many years without causing any symptoms. Therefore, leprosy has a long or unpredictable incubation period. A person exposed to the disease may never develop symptoms or may develop symptoms 6 months, a year or 20 years after exposure.

Because of these characteristics of the disease, its unpredictable incubation and incurable nature, it is used typologically to represent sin and impurity in the Bible. God does not fear, hate or misuse the victims of leprosy. However, humanity has done so in the past. As long as it was considered incurable and was not understood, leprosy was greatly feared, and to be diagnosed with leprosy was to be instantly made an outcast. The only way to control the spread of the disease was to isolate those infected, separating them from the general population. The similarity with sin breaks down at this point, because humanity is all infected with sin without a single exception.

In 2 Kings 5, we meet Naaman. Naaman was the commander of the army of Aram, a mighty warrior and a leper.

In his day, this was a certain death sentence. There was no cure. However, Naaman was valuable to the king of Aram. Naaman led his troops to great victories. Therefore, the king was willing to commit the resources of the nation to curing Naaman.

For a disease or condition without a cure, no amount of resources, money or effort can help. Sin is like this. No amount of resources, training, effort or money can alter the natural course of sin in a person’s life.

Our world screams, “Where is God in all of this?” “God is silent.” “He does not speak.” However, humanity refuses to acknowledge we have a problem. We refuse to acknowledge that we are sick, disfigured and infected with a terminal illness.

Naaman was not in denial. The Scripture does not tell us Naaman tried to hide or deny his disease. However, it does tell us that a young servant girl told Naaman’s wife, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:3)

The first step in finding healing, help or a cure is to acknowledge the problem.

Whether the problem is physical or spiritual, this acknowledgement must be honest. It will not do to treat leprosy as if it is a simple wart or acne. It will not do to treat cancer as if it is a simple cold. It will not do to treat alcoholism as if it is a simple desire for alcohol. It will not do to treat sex outside of marriage as if it is a simple desire for pleasure or happiness. At what point are we willing to acknowledge we have a problem?

Naaman was on the right track. He knew he had a problem.

God provided an answer.

He always does. In the case of Naaman, it was through a servant girl. Of course, Naaman would not have listened to the servant girl. However, he did listen to his wife. We do not always listen, but occasionally God gets through to us.

Naaman listened and told the king there was hope in Samaria. Therefore, the king sent money and a letter to the king of Israel, who lived in Samaria, saying, “With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:6)

The king of Aram and Naaman made the mistake we all tend to make. They looked to other people for the answer. Other people are not the answer. Other people help us in so far as they bring us to the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)

The king of Israel responded by tearing his clothes and saying, “He is trying to pick a fight with me.” There was no way that he could cure Naaman’s leprosy. However, Elijah heard of the king’s dilemma and sent the king a message saying:

Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel. (2 Kings 5:8)

At this point, Naaman is being directed to the only One who can help.

Naaman went to Elisha’s house. He went with horses and chariots, because he was an important man. He represented a nation and came with a letter of introduction from his king.

This is human. We like to be important.

Elisha is unimpressed. He does not bother to come out of the house. He sends a messenger out to tell Naaman:

Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy. (2 Kings 5:10)

Naaman is outraged. He said:

“I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the LORD his God and heal me! Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” (2 Kings 5:11-12)

However, Naaman’s officers reasoned with him and said:

“Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” (2 Kings 5:13)

As a result, Naaman went and washed himself in the Jordan River and he was healed of his leprosy.

Our expectations keep us from the healing God has for us.

We want to be treated as important, but we must humble ourselves and acknowledge our leprosy (read sin). We want to pay for a cure or earn a cure, but no price can pay for what we need. We want to do some great deed in order to merit being cured. However, God has provided only one Way.

Acts 4:12 says, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Our expectation is that we should be able to find our own way to God, but He says there is only one Way.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

Our expectation is that nothing is free. We have to work for it. However, God takes away our right to boast. We cannot earn it. If Naaman had done some great deed to take healing for himself, he could have boasted, but God did not give him that option. Neither does God give any of us that option.

Our world may scream, “Where is God in all of this?” However, as long as we refuse to acknowledge we have a problem and as long as we refuse to accept His solution, God’s voice falls on deaf ears.

God gave His Son to save us from our sins, what more do we expect?

[ii] https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=leprosy

[iii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leprosy

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

A Still Small Voice

1 Kings 19:1-18[i]

Elijah was a man of God. In 1 Kings 17, he announces a famine. God is trying to get the attention of Israel. Israel has been consistently unfaithful by worshipping idols and participating in religious practices that God never sanctioned. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah takes on the king and the prophets of Baal in front of the whole nation of Israel. He boldly challenges them to a contest to see who is the true God.

The Lord God answers Elijah’s simple prayer with fire from heaven, demonstrating that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the true God. In response, the people proclaim that the Lord is God, and Elijah boldly takes charge and has the people of Israel slay all the prophets of Baal.

Elijah has won. The people have acknowledged that the Lord is God. (1 Kings 18:39) Therefore, Elijah prays for rain, and God sends rain. Elijah warned Ahab of the coming rain, and outran Ahab's chariot to Ahab's hometown.

Surely, this is the beginning of reform, a return to the God of Israel.

However, this is not to be. 1 Kings 19:1 tells us that when Ahab got home he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal.

Ahab had a habit of getting Jezebel to do his dirty work. Therefore, this is what he does. 1 Kings 21:25 tells us, “There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD.” (NIV)[ii] His heart was not moved by the demonstration of God’s power. Consequently, he goes home and tells Jezebel his troubles. How that bad old “troubler of Israel” killed all his prophets of Baal. Jezebel then sends a message to Elijah. “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” (1 Kings 19:2) She was not king. She could not have done this without the king’s support. However, Ahab was afraid of the people. The people had followed Elijah in slaying the prophets of Baal. The people had proclaimed, “The Lord is God!” Ahab insulated himself from the consequences of taking action by getting Jezebel to do it for him.

However, Jezebel was not stupid. She sent a message. If she had sent soldiers or someone to kill Elijah, they would most likely have been stopped. After all, Elijah had just killed 450 people.

1 Kings 19:3 tells us, “Elijah was afraid and fled for his life.” Up to this point in the life of Elijah, he acted on the word of the Lord. In this case, he responds in fear. He took his eyes off the Lord his God. This reminds me of Peter, when he saw Jesus walking on the water. He said to Jesus, “Master, if it is truly you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water until he took his eyes off Jesus, saw the storm and noticed the wind and the waves. Then, he sank and had to be rescued by Jesus. We see this same response in Elijah. He took his eyes off the Lord his God and ran.

How often do we do the same thing? Do we wait patiently for the Lord, or do we panic and run?

Circumstances look threatening. In response, we take action before taking our concerns to the Lord and seeking His will.

Elijah panics. He went to Beersheba. He ran 120 miles south. He is in Judah, which should be a safe place. However, he does not stop there. He leaves his servant and continues alone into the wilderness. He finally reaches the end of physical endurance, lies down under a tree and prays to die. In this, we get a glimpse into his frame of mind. He says, “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” (1 Kings 19:4) He is thinking about his ancestors. We also know that he goes to Mt. Sinai, the Mountain of God where Moses received the Law.

When Elijah gets to Mt. Sinai and the Lord asks Him, “What are you doing here?” we see more of Elijah’s frame of mind. He says, “I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” (1 Kings 19:15)

Elijah remembered the great demonstration of power at Mt. Sinai and the powerful leadership of Moses and felt sorry for himself. He had expected an entirely different result from his ministry at Mt. Herman. He ministered with a passion to see his people return to the Lord his God. He is angry with God. His statement that he is the only one left is an accusation pointing at God. He went back to the place where it had all started, Mt. Sinai. That is where the covenant that had been broken was established.

Have you ever been disappointed with God?

Have you ever worked hard, served the Lord and then met with what you perceived as failure? I have.

“God, I worked hard for you. I was faithful, and look what is happening now!”

At this point, Elijah is nowhere near where he should be. Twice, God asks him, “What are you doing here?”

Have you ever found yourself in a place where you have no business being? I have. Do not worry. Many people have. Abraham found himself in Egypt, where he had no business being. Jonah found himself in the belly of a big fish. David found himself in Philistia. Peter found himself running away, weeping after having denied Jesus. Disappointment and frustration with God seems to be a part of the life of the one who would follow God. It is not the fact that God is good that upsets us. It is the fact that His ways are not our ways. Elijah wanted a revival. Jonah wanted Nineveh judged. David wanted safety from Saul. Peter wanted the Kingdom of God. All wanted good things, but the desired results did not happen when and how the man of God wanted.

These men got mad at God, threw a fit and went their own way. How did God respond?

He sustained them. He fed Elijah heavenly food. He kept Jonah from drowning and provided transportation back to dry land. He provided a home and protection for David. He protected Abraham and made him rich. He chose Peter to lead his Apostles and the Church in Jerusalem.

How does God respond to you when you get angry, frustrated, disappointed and lack faith? He sustains you. He provides you with heavenly food. He carries you through the storm to dry land. He provides safety and shelter. He gives you blessings you do not deserve. Hebrews 12:5-6 make it clear that God disciplines His children. This is important. He treats us as His children, because that is exactly what we are. We are His children. John 1:12 tells us:

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

God used a famine, and fire from heaven to speak to Ahab.

Ahab was not God’s child. He made himself God’s enemy

God used plagues, death and destruction to speak to Pharaoh.

Pharaoh was not God’s child. He made himself God’s enemy.

God uses earthquakes, plagues and disease to get the attention of those who set themselves against Him. In the book of Revelation, God says He will use earthquakes, plagues and disease to speak to those who set themselves against Him. However, this is not how God speaks to His children.

To Adam, He said, “Where are you?” To Elijah, He said, “What are you doing here?”

God reminded Elijah that He could smash rocks with wind, shake the earth and bring fire from heaven. What happened in Israel was not up to Elijah. God gave Him an assignment. “Go back the way you came.” Elijah was to anoint Hazael king of Aram. Hazael would be the wind that would smash the rocks of Israel. Elijah was to anoint Jehu as king of Israel. Jehu would be the earthquake that would shake the foundations of Israel, removing the family of Ahab from the face of the earth. Elijah was to anoint Elisha as his own successor. Elisha would be the fire that purified the nation.

However, the wind, earthquake and fire were not for Elijah. God does not speak to His children that way. God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice. The Hebrew is literally “a sound of gentle stillness.” God tells us, “Be still and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10) God speaks to His children with impressions, through His word and through thoughts. Psalm 16:7 tells us that even at night our hearts instruct us. This, along with examples in scripture, leads me to believe that He speaks to us even in our dreams.

Jesus has saved us from the wrath of God. As His children, we do not live in fear. We live in the glorious triumph of the grace of God. The warning of wrath and judgment are for a world that sets itself up in opposition to God. For us, His children, we need to listen and in the stillness hear the sweet sound of His still small voice. When God needs to shout to get someone’s attention, then there is a serious need for repentance and contrition.

God speaks to His children. Are we listening?

[ii] Scripture quotations marked NIV 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.