On the Road to Horeb
On the Road with Elijah
On The Road With Elijah To Horeb Pt. 1
1 Kings 19:8-10
 
A famous publisher declared, "If you are an articulate person, you utter some thirty thousand words each day." If these words were put in print, they would amount to a fair-sized book each day. These books would, in a lifetime, fill a good-sized college library. All these books are from the same author. All reflect the life and thought of the author, in his own words, and not a book can be taken down from the shelves or withdrawn from circulation.
 
It is not how much we talk but what we say that is important. I have met a few who were not articulate but certainly uttered more than thirty thousand word each day. They talked a lot, but did not actually say anything. That is, they didn't say anything of value and benefit to those who heard them. On the other hand, I have met those who said very little, but when they said something it was meaningful.
 
You can be certain that whenever God has spoken it was never idle chatter or meaningless talk. I heard someone say that God always meant what He said and said what He meant. Whenever He spoke, there was meaning, eternal meaning in His words. If anyone knew this truth about God speaking it was Elijah.
 
As we continue our journeys with Elijah we travel with him to Horeb. Horeb was an alternative name for Mount Sinai. The name Horeb means "waste" or "wilderness." This was a place hallowed by time.
 
It was here that the great I Am had appeared to Moses in a burning bush. It was here that the smitten rock gushed forth its refreshing water. It was here that God gave Moses His Law and renewed His covenant with a people redeemed from Egypt. It was here that God hid Moses in a cleft of the rock and allowed him to see His glory. It was here that Aaron and Hur upheld the lifted arms of Joshua. It was a place where God had revealed Himself in special ways, a place embedded in Jewish history.
 
It is the place that we now find Elijah. As he came to Horeb.
 
19:9)
 
It is literally "the cave," and some have conjectured it was the same cave or cleft in which Moses was placed when he saw God's glory (cp. Exo. 33:22). The particular word used for "lodged" indicates an overnight stay. Perhaps exhausted from his forty-day journey he crawled into the cave to rest for the night. However, it was not to be a night for sleeping.
 
Sometime in the night "the word of the LORD came to him." It was a voice Elijah could neither mistake nor misinterpret. It was a voice he was very familiar with. It was the same voice he had heard that had directed him to Cherith.
 
It was the same voice he had heard that had told him to go to Zarephath (cp. 17:8). It was the same voice that had commanded him to show himself to Ahab (cp. 18:1). It was a voice he knew immediately was the "LORD."
 
 
In the past that voice had come with a word of direction. This time it was a word of correction. This time it was a not a word of revelation, but a word of rebuke. This time God was not telling him where to go, but asking why he was where he was. The solitude and silence of the cave was broken with the sound of God's voice asking, "What are you doing her?”
 
The question is so important, that I do not want to rush by it, but dwell upon it alone in this study. Let's walk through the question word by word.
 
First, we have in the question:
 
1. A Word That Speaks To What We Are
 
The first word in the question I want us to consider is the word "doing." This is a word of action and activity. It is a word that implies that one has something to do. It reminds us that each believer has a specific work to do. It speaks to us concerning what we are. What are we? Each child of God is to be a servant of God, following His will and doing His work.
 
When we meet Elijah in the Scriptures, he declared to Ahab that it was "the LORD God of Israel...before whom I stand" (17:1). In these words we see Elijah as a servant of God. The very first thing we learn about Elijah in his introduction is what he "does." He stepped into the pages of the Word of God as a servant of God.
 
 
 
 
What kind of servant do we see in Elijah?
 
The idea behind standing before God is that of a servant. It was another way of saying, "Whose servant I am." In Deuteronomy 18:5 we read, "For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever." The tribe of Levi was chosen to "stand to minister in the name of the LORD." Their standing was one of special service to God.
 
When God's call came to Elijah we are not permitted by the Holy Spirit to know. It is a part of his life that has not been disclosed. Yet, there had been a time in his life that God's came to him and there had been a surrendering of his life to that call. He would be a prophet of God and for God.
 
To every believer there comes a call. In I Corinthians 1:26 Paul said, "For ye see your calling, brethren." The word "calling" that Paul uses literally means an invitation. It is God's invitation to serve Him. Jesus said to Andrew and Peter, "Follow me." What did it mean to follow Jesus? To follow Jesus was to become "fishers of men" (Matt. 4:19). Following Jesus was to become engaged and involved in His work.
 
When searching for David Livingstone, Henry M. Stanley had a most unusual reception from King Mutesa in Uganda. The queen had a strange dream about the white man's God and His Son Jesus Christ shortly before Stanley's arrival. She related her dream after the arrival of Stanley at the royal house.
 
 
 
The king and queen pleaded with Stanley to send a letter to England and ask for a missionary teacher to be sent to them. He wrote the letter and sent it out by a young Frenchman who was leaving Stanley's party. The bearer of the letter was murdered. Several months later his body was found by some British soldiers.
 
Searching through his clothing, they found Stanley's letter in one of his boots. They sent it to England, where it was featured in the Daily Telegraph.Great interest was aroused. When the Church Missionary Society appealed for missionary volunteers to go to King Mutesa's land, several young men responded.
 
The call of God comes to every believer to serve Him and every believer should surrender to God's call. I have had people say to me, "But I don't feel like God has called me." Whether one feels it or not, all God's people are called to be His servant. The response that is expected is one of surrender.
 
The thought of standing before God also carries the idea of one waiting orders from their superior. When Elijah appeared before Ahab and told him that there was going to be a drought, he was acting on God's behalf. He was merely relaying the Word of the Lord. He told Ahab what he had been told to tell him. Somewhere and at sometime God had commanded Elijah to go to Ahab and he had obeyed. Time and time again, as we have seen, the actions of Elijah were responses to God's commands.
 
Someone asked Emily Post, "What is the correct procedure when one is invited to the White House and has a previous engagement?"
 
She answered, "An invitation to lunch or dine at the White House is a command, and automatically cancels any other engagement."
 
A servant is one who us under the authority of another. As a servant of God, one is under the authority of God. His commands are paramount. His commands cancel any other plan or engagement. Whatever He says to do, the servant "doest." At the wedding in Cana, "His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it" (John 2:5).  This is always the response of a servant. He is always submissive to the commands of God.
 
One of my most respected characters of history is General Stonewall Jackson. I think of one occasion during the War Between the States, General Lee one day sent word to Stonewall Jackson that the next time he rode in the direction of headquarters the Commander-in-Chief would be glad to see him on a matter of no great importance.
 
General Jackson received the message and immediately prepared to leave the next morning. Rising very early, he rode the eight miles to Lee's headquarters against a storm of wind and snow, and arrived just as Lee was finishing breakfast. Much surprised, Lee inquired why Jackson had come through such a storm. General Jackson replied: "But you said that you wished to see me. General Lee's slightest wish is a supreme command to me."
 
There is the word "doing." It speaks to us about what we are. What are we? All who are saved are servants of God. As servants we are surrendered to the call of God and submissive to the commands of God.
 
The second word that I want us to focus upon in God's question to Elijah is the word "you." In this word we have:
 
2.  A Word That Speaks To Who We Are
 
God asked, "What are you doing." The word "you" makes the question very personal to Elijah. It is a word that speaks to who Elijah was as a person. Who Elijah was as a person was critically connected to what he was as a servant. The "what" is never divorced from the "who." The effectiveness of what we are is always related to who we are as a person.
 
The greatness of Elijah's ministry was built upon the greatness of his life. The kind of person he was directed affected the kind of ministry he had. How well we need to remember that effectiveness of our service is directly connected to the holiness of our life. Who we are spiritually will always determine what we do eternally.
 
We all have known of those who portrayed one thing, but were something entirely different. The ministry has not been without its hypocrites and imposters. Some have even had a measure of success from man's perspective. However, if there is to be fruit that remains and anything of eternal value accomplished, the life behind the ministry is essential. One may put on a good show and fool the people around them, but the God who knows the heart will not bless.
 
 
 
 
We are easily fascinated with the ministry of Elijah, but we must never forget that it was his person that was the secret to his power. What kind of person was Elijah? What kind of person does God bless?
 
Let's answer that question by looking at the response he gave to God's question
 
19:10
 
In his answer we see the kind of person Elijah had been. Elijah said that he "had been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts." The word "jealous" literally means that he was zealous. The verb stresses a strong emotion. Serving God was not just something that was a part of Elijah's life. It was the reason for his life. He was a driven person. His heart was aflame for God. James 5:16 tells us that when Elijah prayed he did so "earnestly." In all Elijah did and in all he was there was a zeal and fervency.
 
One of the secrets to his effective service was his burning heart. He was a person who took God and His work seriously. All who have been used of God have been people who were "jealous for the LORD." God has never blessed a complacent and cold believer.
 
The indictment of the church at Laodicea was "thou art neither cold nor hot" but "thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot" (Rev. 3:15-16). Is not this the condition of many who name the name of Jesus Christ? You ask them if they are saved and they will be quick to tell you they are. Yet, they lack a zeal for God and the things of God. You never see any enthusiasm about eternal things.
 
God demands all we are! You can't give God 50% or 75%. You can't even give Him 99% and expect Him to use you. God accepts nothing less than 100%!
 
You do not have to look long at the life of Elijah to see that he was a man "with a conviction and compassions as deep as life." It was one of the reasons God used him as He did. It was the kind of person he was.
 
Charles Dickens said of the principle upon which the work of his life had been conducted: "Whatever I have tried to do in my life, I have tried with all my heart to do well. What I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely. Never to put one hand to anything on which not throw my whole self, and never to affect depreciation of my work, whatever it was, I find now to have been golden rules."
 
Also in Elijah's reply was a personal indictment of the children of Israel.
 
He spoke of how "the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword."
 
The majority of the people had been unfaithful to God, but Elijah had remained faithful. He was wrong, as we shall see, in saying that he was the only one who had remained faithful, but he was certainly in the minority. Only a small percentage had remained faithful to God and Elijah was among them.
 
 
 
 
The majority had turned their backs on God and turned to Baal. One of the few that remained godly and faithful was Elijah.
 
Elijah had been faithful to the Word of God. The majority had forsaken God's covenant but Elijah had remained faithful to the covenant God had made with His people.
 
Elijah had been faithful to the Worship of God. The majority had thrown down the altars of God, but Elijah had not followed in their footsteps. He had worshipped God and God alone.
 
Elijah had been faithful to the Work of God. The prophets of God had been slain in an effort to eliminate the true God, but Elijah had proclaimed himself as a prophet and had been faithful as a prophet to further the name and cause of God among the people.
 
From ancient mythology comes the story of Penelope, who remained faithful to her absent husband Odysseus. Embarking with other heroes of his day, Odysseus had sailed away to the siege of Troy. Upon the fall of that city, he began that eventful voyage which, after an absence of twenty years, brought him back to Ithaca, his native land. His wife, Penelope, was a beautiful woman. During the absence of Odysseus, more than a hundred nobles had sought her hand. But hers was a beauty not of form alone, but of character and soul as well. She knew it was highly improbable that her lord would ever return.
 
 
 
For more than ten years her many important suitors had pressed their attentions. There seemed no refuge but in choosing one of them. She accordingly told them that when she had finished with a certain web she was weaving, she would make her choice. She worked on the web every day, but during the night would undo what she had wrought during the daytime.
 
Thus she found delay. Odysseus entered the palace disguised as a beggar and found the suitors all assembled. In a trial of strength he proved himself the worthiest of the lot. Penelope, still unaware of the presence of Odysseus, had provided for the contest his own bow, which she knew no other man could bend. So in one act Odysseus revealed himself to his faithful spouse and took revenge upon the insolent suitors who had so annoyed her.
 
The person and character of Elijah was revealed in his faithfulness. Like Daniel, he wouldn't bend or bow in spite of what others were doing. He was faithful in heart, thus faithful in deed. It was one of the secrets to his greatness. What he did was directly connected to who he was.
 
There are no shortcuts to being blessed of God. We can pretend we are godly person and even convince others that we have a close walk with God. We can talk like prophets, yet if the walk is not there, all we will get are fleshly results. What we are is the secret to what we do.
 
 
 
 
 
Lastly, we see in God's question:
 
3. A Word That Speaks To Where We Are
 
God asked, "What are you doing here?, Elijah?" The final word is His question that I want us to consider is the word "here." It is a word that speaks to where we are. In Elijah's case it was a word of rebuke. God was seeking information. He knew exactly where Elijah was. It was a question that was aimed for Elijah's heart and he knew exactly what God was asking.
 
It was a word that addressed the face that Elijah was out of the Will of God
 
God had fed Elijah to strengthen him for a journey (cp. 19:7). God had a direction for Elijah to go and a place for him to be. The question indicates that where Elijah was found was not that place. "Why are you here," God was asking, "and not where I wanted you." Even though God had revealed that He was not through with Elijah, he is still running. The discouraged prophet was a disobedient prophet. Where God found him was outside of His will. Why was he "here" when God had sent him "there" (cp 17:4).
 
God asks the same question to many a believer. Where God finds them is in a place contrary to His will. Instead of being in a place where they are honoring God, they are dishonoring Him. Instead of being in a place where He can bless them, they are in a place that grieves Him. Instead of being in a place where they are useful, they are found in a place where they are useless.
 
John Butler writes: "Some need to ask this question on Sunday when they are in places other than church. As an example, many sports fans and athletes need to ask this question on Sundays; for football stadiums, gyms, baseball parks, golf courses, and race tracks are where they are located on Sunday instead at church.
 
Also some travelers need to ask this question when they travel on the highways on Sunday instead of worshipping. They seem to think they can make better time getting to some location by skipping church. But that is not smart thinking at all. Such folk will someday discover that they will have to do a lot of back tracking as Elijah did.
 
Still others need to consider this question in regards to what church they are located in; for they are attending a modernistic, apostate church which does not preach the Word of God faithfully. And many professing Christians need to ask themselves this question when they are found in cinemas, drive-in movies, dancing saloons, night clubs, and other dens of iniquity."
 
The place many Christians find themselves is out of the will of God. Furthermore, Elijah was out of the Work of God
 
The order is always true. When one is out of God's will, they will get out of His work. All of us can think of those who at one time served God. They were faithful and fervent in their work, but they are no longer at their post. They are out of both God's will and work.
 
 
3. Where does God find you? Where does God find me? Are we in His will, faithfully and fervently doing His work? If not, do we not hear the voice of God asking, "What are you doing here?"