September 12 A Conversation

1 Kings 19: 9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

WHAT is your emotional response when you read God's question to Elijah? Certainly the all-knowing God knows exactly why Elijah is there on the mountain. We have seen the Lord strengthen Elijah to enable the prophet to meet with him. Why then, does God ask the question?

    One of the words for God is Counselor. It is a word used to define God's Savior in Isaiah 9:6(b) "and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Jesus defines the Holy Spirit as a Counselor (also Comforter, Helper) in several places as he does here in John 14:26 "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

    There on Mt. Horeb that day, God opened the conversation as a counselor. He gave Elijah the opportunity to talk. The Counselor God wanted to hear his prophet speak to him of his heartache, his frustrations, his questions and his hopes. God gave this weary Elijah the opportunity to speak his needs to the One who had called him to the huge task of ministering his Word and confronting evil in Israel.

    Even more, we can be sure God also wanted Elijah to confess. Remember, God had used Elijah to win a great battle against Baal's prophets in Israel. But instead of claiming victory in Israel, Elijah fearfully and faithlessly ran from Jezebel. Elijah also needed to confess how he had desired to die. In two ways, Elijah had put aside his faith in God. It's time now for Elijah to say, "I have sinned. Forgive me, Lord."    

    We must know that unconfessed sins will weigh us with heavy burdens. Sin upon sin becomes too much to bear. We become depressed. We want to let go of life rather than repent and be refreshed in God's true love and forgiveness. Hiding our sins from God wearies the heart and soul.

    God came to care for Elijah that day. He asked Elijah to speak his heart and to confess his sins.

Prayer: Grant us humility, submission and faith, Lord, to confess our sins and be purified in Jesus' redeeming blood. Amen.