A crucial event happened in the ministry of Elijah shortly after he had the 450 prophets of Baal slain. Queen Jezebel was furious when she heard of this slaughter. She immediately threatened to kill Elijah and he fled for his life. A hasty journey 95 miles to the south to Beer-Sheba offered some security but not enough for the agitated Elijah. Beersheba was in the Kingdom of Judah and Elijah was fearful that the friendship between Jehoshaphat, king of Judah and Ahab, Jezebel’s husband might cause Jehoshaphat to turn him over to Jezebel He fled farther south another day’s journey into the wilderness and prayed to God that he would die.
It was time for God to intervene in this headlong flight, so an angel provided food which gave Elijah strength to take a pilgrimage to Mount Horeb which is a peak adjacent to Mount Sinai. When God asked Elijah what he was doing there, Elijah was quick to defend himself. He had been very zealous for the Lord, but Israel had forsaken God’s covenant, thrown down God’s altars; slain God’s prophets, until only Elijah was left and now they were seeking to kill Elijah himself.
While hiding in a cave Elijah experienced an exhibition of terrifying forces of nature caused by God’s power. Winds blew so strong that they dislodged rocks that ultimately were shattered as they crashed on the crags below. The awe inspiring wind was followed by a soul shaking earthquake and then fire. Elijah, however, found God in none of the spectacular forces of nature, but in a still small voice which caused him to leave his cave, covering his face with his mantle because of the close proximity of God. He thus continued his communication with God.
Elijah defended his actions in the same manner as he did previously, but God’s admonition was to return to his ministry. Elijah was to seek out and train his replacement and then anoint Jehu and Hazael as kings over Israel and Syria.
With the renewed strength and determination resulting from his close communion with God, Elijah returned to Israel, spent another twelve years in his ministry and carried out God’s instructions. He anointed Elishah to take his place and it remained for Elisha to complete the tasks by anointing Jehu and Hazael.
As we look back over this important incident in Elijah’s life, what do we discover? Elijah experienced Re-dedication!
Now that we are in the midst of the year of dedication, there has been much talk of re-dedication. There has been much discussion about what the word really means, about what actions are necessary to really constitute re-dedication. The question has been asked repeatedly: What must I do to become rededicated?,
Here is the answer to the questions. Here is the conclusion to the discussions. Here is the definition of the word by example! All we have to do is apply Elijah’s example to ourselves.
Let us take a closer look at Elijah’s re-dedication. Elijah came to a number of conclusions: (1) he had to flee because of Jezebel’s threat of death. (2) He couldn’t trust Jehoshaphat. (3) The situation was so hopeless, he might as well die. (4) He was the only true prophet of God left in Israel. All of these conclusions were drawn from human reasoning. Elijah had stopped communicating with God.
It was necessary for God to intervene and take over. He led Elijah to Sinai, the place of communication between God and His people. The place where Israel received the law through the ministry of Moses.
Elijah experienced the startling effects of the forces of nature with their spectacular display of external might. But there was no message for him from God in any of them.
The message from God came through the still small voice. Elijah drew very close to God; he listened to the voice; and he did what the voice told him to do. He returned to Israel and ministered before the Lord for twelve more years.
What a tremendous lesson we can draw from these events! Elijah was a prophet of God. On numerous occasions he could draw directly on God’s spirit to perform miraculous deeds. More than once God directly provided him sustenance. Yet there came a time in Elijah’s life that he became so dejected and despondent that he needed re-dedication. How much more must we, the inhabitants of the 20th century, who have no direct access to God’s sustaining and miracle-working spirit, have need for re-dedication.
Our need for re-dedication stems from the same sources as Elijah’s. We need re-dedication whenever human reasoning takes over and governs our actions instead of our motions being guided by instructions from God. The scope can vary significantly. Human reasoning can govern a few minor activities in our lives or it can grow like a cancer until it takes over every function of our mind and body.
Our method of experiencing re-dedication can also stem from the same sources available to Elijah.
- Elijah withdrew from the world. It was necessary for him to do it only once. We must also withdraw from the world. We must do it, however, on a regular planned basis.
- Elijah withdrew to the Mount of God, the place where God reveals himself to His people. We must withdraw to the Bible. The place where God reveals himself to His people in the 20th century.
- Elijah drew so close to God, that he covered his face. We must approach our study of the Scripture with the same attitude. We are in God’s presence. We must approach this presence with reverence and humility. We must approach with the attitude that we can and will learn what God communicates to us.
- Elijah listened to the still small voice. We must listen to the still small voice. We must let Scripture speak to us.
We must go to it on a regular planned basis and let it’s words guide our actions.
- Elijah did what the voice told him to do. We must do the same. Human reasoning cannot be allowed to rationalize the Word of God. The Word is plain, we must follow it exactly as it says.
- Elijah returned to witness in Israel. We must turn to witnessing in the world. There are many ways to witness. Each one must decide what is right for him in accordance with his own abilities.
- The spectacular forces of nature had no message for Elijah, from God. Our re-dedication will not consist of a sudden spectacular change in our attitude or life style. Rather it will consist of a listening to the still small voice on a regular basis so that little by little, one by one, our lives will turn from a series of human-governed actions to a series of God-governed actions. Finally we will attain all of the wonderful attributes of God listed in Exodus chapter 34 and attain the true glory of the Lord.
Now, let us get down to specifics. What can each of us do to let the still small voice direct our life on a regular planned basis?
Do you regularly attend a midweek Bible class? If not, make room in your life for this activity. It is an excellent way to obtain more exposure to God’s Word.
Do you always have a book or pamphlet on the coffee table or nightstand at home so it can be picked up and read when a spare moment is available? This can be a continuous process. When one book is completed through this short-spurt start and stop process, another can be started. You will be surprised how much can be read in this manner.
Do you listen to tapes while you are doing other activities which permit this, such as driving in the car or doing household chores?
Do you do your daily readings at a time each day when you are most alert and a time which can be kept consistently ? Evenings are often interrupted by other activities — even enlightening ones such as Bibles classes. Mornings are interrupted much less often and a portion of Spiritual food helps sustain one through the day.
Do you concentrate on quality instead of quantity in your reading of the Scripture? A few verses read with interest, thought and discussion of the key point is better than several chapters read just to keep a schedule.
These are just a few suggestions. I’m sure you can think of many more applications. Let your rededication start right now by a determination to select just one new way to let the still small voice enter your life. Once you have made the selection of one new way, implement it as soon as possible!
In conclusion, re-dedication, as we learn from Elijah’s example consists of:
- Relying on God’s reasoning. not human reasoning.
- Listening to the still small voice on a planned, regular basis.
- Selecting one new way for the still small voice to enter your life and starting to implement that way now!
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One