The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Kings 19:10,
"The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn 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."
This is Elijah's complaint to the Lord as he fled the infamous and wicked Jezebel, King Ahab's wife. Following what is one of the most dramatic of all accounts in the pages of Scripture, where Elijah's work as a prophet of the Lord led to the deaths of 850 priests of idolatry, Jezebel looked to take Elijah's life. Elijah fled from Jezebel to a cave on Mount Horeb where the Lord confronted Elijah and asked what he was doing, hiding in the cave.
The account is a fascinating one where a monumental victory of God's prophet over the 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah is followed by his hiding in a cave, fearful and ready to die.
Paul uses this account to make a point in Romans 11:2-5, "Don't you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 'Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me'? And what was God's answer to him? 'I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.' So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace."
"The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn 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."
This is Elijah's complaint to the Lord as he fled the infamous and wicked Jezebel, King Ahab's wife. Following what is one of the most dramatic of all accounts in the pages of Scripture, where Elijah's work as a prophet of the Lord led to the deaths of 850 priests of idolatry, Jezebel looked to take Elijah's life. Elijah fled from Jezebel to a cave on Mount Horeb where the Lord confronted Elijah and asked what he was doing, hiding in the cave.
The account is a fascinating one where a monumental victory of God's prophet over the 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah is followed by his hiding in a cave, fearful and ready to die.
Paul uses this account to make a point in Romans 11:2-5, "Don't you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 'Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me'? And what was God's answer to him? 'I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.' So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace."
Paul uses the passage to point out that the Lord has always had a remnant of people of faith. The question Paul addressed was: since Israel, as a nation, did not embrace the Son of God, was God then done with Israel? Paul's answer was no - although it may have appeared to his questioner there were no Jewish believers, they existed nonetheless. Just as certain as the sinful condition of everyone who has ever lived, so, likewise, there has always been a remnant of people who have embraced the Lord in faith - there is always a manifestation of God's wonderful work of grace on planet earth represented in those who have fled to him for refuge from his horrific judgment.
When things look stark and forbidding, when it seems you are the only one in your orbit that has a heart for the Lord, know there are others! We are never alone as there are wonderful brothers and sisters that surround us no matter how things may look.
A dogged, persevering and tenacious company of believers surrounds us! This is one of the many ways our loving Lord provides us encouragement and strength. Each one of us believers comprise that faithful remnant the Lord holds as his in this life... as we look to our unfathomable inheritance in the next.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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