I Kings 19:12-14 – After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “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.”
The prophet Elijah lived in perilous times. Many Bible scholars believe that Ahab, king of the northern region of Israel, was one of the most evil kings in the history of the Israelites. Married to Jezebel in a politically arranged marriage, the two of them reigned down terror on their subjects, including any Israeli prophet who voiced opposition to the pagan god Baal. Jezebel herself oversaw the slaughter of priests and prophets who followed the Lord and condemned the worship of Baal. With the other prophets of the Lord dead, Elijah was truly “the last man standing.”
In our focus verses above, the Lord and Elijah have a heart to heart conversation. In Elijah’s encounter with God, he is assured deliverance and safety from evil King Ahab and his scheming wife Jezebel. The times in which Elijah lived were beyond brutal, with the concept of “justice for all” not yet remotely practiced or conceptualized. And yet, in spite of the very lopsided power play, Elijah had the courage to speak up. When I ponder on this it makes me uncomfortable. How often do I squirm when I’m part of conversations that become controversial? How often do I hide behind being polite, when my convictions tell me to speak up? These days, with our country’s own divisiveness, it’s easier for me to be mealy-mouthed. Others I know have the opposite problem and see every opposing view as a personal affront. There has to be a way through to civil discourse. Our church’s efforts in creating a Behavioral Covenant will help remind us to fully speak our minds, but with respect to all. We have much to learn from one another.
We also have much to learn from Elijah! He spoke truth to power in a time of brutal terror and mass killing, the likes of which our own country has never yet seen. The price he paid was the threat of death. His reward was the assurance that God was with him through it all. Dear Lord, may we always stand bravely in the face of blatant wrongdoing where others are hurt and suffer. There are absolutes which should never be compromised! However, may we also patiently listen to one another where issues are nuanced and gray areas abound. Above all, may your Holy Spirit guide our voice in tone and content.
Blessings to all this week!
Diana
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