“What Doest Thou Here?”

1 Kings 19

Elijah flopped down under a juniper tree. He was exhausted, discouraged, and depressed. God had given a major victory over the priests of Baal, but their greatest supporter, the wicked queen Jezebel seemed just as powerful and threatening as ever. What was the use of it all? He might as well just die and be done with this earthly struggle.

“It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” (v.4)

Then he laid down beneath the tree and slept, perhaps expecting to wake up in heaven. But when he did wake, it was to a nudge from an angel, who told him to get up and eat. Once he had eaten, he laid down again to sleep.

The next time the angel woke him, he was told to eat well, for he would need strength for a long journey. Forty days and nights passed as Elijah journeyed towards Mount Horeb, long known as a place of God’s presence, where the ten commandments were given. We are not told whether God called Elijah to that specific place by name, or if he was just following God’s leading mile by mile, as Abraham had. But we are told what God said to Elijah when he got there:

“And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?” (v.9)

Elijah then poured out his long list of grievances and discouragements:

“And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, thrown down Thine altars, and slain Thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” (v.10)

In answer to Elijah’s questions, God did something remarkable:

“And He said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that 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 unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?” (vv. 11-13)

In response to Elijah’s list of problems, God drew Elijah’s attention to Himself. The wind, the earthquake, and the fire put God’s power on display and announced His presence, but notice that it was God’s gentleness, that still, small voice that God actually spoke through. And notice the repeated question: “What doest Thou here?”

I imagine that Elijah’s second rehearsal of grievances was much more subdued than his first. Before, he spoke to God as though He were distant, now he couldn’t help but know He was present, near enough to speak softly.

God did address Elijah’s “list,” and gave him some practical things to do, but as I read through this passage this week, I was struck by the thought that so often, we seek the place of God’s presence in order to gain relief from our problems, when really what we need and should be seeking is God Himself.

Sometimes, before we are ready to hear God’s solutions to our problems and sorrows, we first need our attention drawn back to God Himself. Sometimes that means food and a nap, in order to be physically prepared to listen. Sometimes it means returning to a place in which we remember feeling God’s presence. But most often, it means giving Him our problems, pouring them all out before Him, and then choosing to yield to His reminder of Who He is. Only when our view of God is renewed and corrected are we ready to have our problems dealt with.

When we run to the place of God’s presence, what are we doing there? are we there only to air our grievances, proclaim our problems, or are we there for a glimpse of God Himself?

So, dear Reader, how is it with you today? Do you feel like Elijah, overwhelmed, discouraged, feeling hopeless? Get alone with God, open up your Bible, and let Him show you His greatness and power—then listen to His gentle voice.

“The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:9