“God Speaks to Elijah”

1 Kings 19:1-18

(sermon note: 11-02 sermon note)

¹When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. ² So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”

³ Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. ⁴ Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

⁵ Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” ⁶ He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.

⁷ Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”

⁸ So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. ⁹ There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.

But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁰ Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

¹¹ “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁴ He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

¹⁵ Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. ¹⁶ Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. ¹⁷ Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! ¹⁸ Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”

This morning’s reading reminds me of the one about the Pope who died and stood before the gates of Heaven. He knocked and knocked until finally St. Peter opened the gate. “Yes?! How can I help you?!” St. Peter gruffed. “I wanna speak with God!” demanded the Pope.

“And you aaaaarrrre???” responded St. Peter. Clearly frustrated, “I’m the Pope!!!” St. Peter pondered it for a bit. “Hmmm, doesn’t ring a bell.” “I DEMAND TO SPEAK WITH GOD!!!” St. Peter closed the Gate and went to hunt down God. When he found him, he said, “My Lord, there is someone who wants to talk with you.” “Oh yeah? Who is it?” “He calls himself the Pope.” “Who is that supposed to be?” ” I don’t know, what should we do with him??” “Let Jesus talk with him, he spent some time down there on earth. He might know who the guy is.” So St. Peter went off to find Jesus and told him about the Pope at the front gate. Jesus found the Pope and talked with him a bit. A few minutes later, Jesus returned to where is Father was, laughing like there is no tomorrow. “What’s so funny, Jesus??” asked the Father. “Father, you won’t believe this! That fishing club I started a couple thousand years ago still exists!!!”

What a great image of the Pope bursting into heaven, demanding to speak with God! I mean, who does he think he is?! No one gets to demand anything from God, even the Pope himself. God speaks when God speaks. No sooner and no later. But I can imagine the Pope’s frustration upon arriving in heaven. He’s had to deal with all of us for sooooo long! And he’s had to speak on God’s behalf for a good portion of that time. It’s no wonder he arrived at the gate a little hot under the collar…

Speaking to God and listening for his response can be a frustrating thing to do. Just look at our friend, Elijah. Our reading for today picks up right when he began to flee from the wrath of Jezebel. Recall that he had stood up to the queen and her many followers of the false God, Baal. God had all the false prophets killed and in retaliation, queen Jezebel killed all of God’s prophets except one: Elijah. God had enabled him to escape her wrath but boy, she was determined to catch up with him and kill him. She vowed, “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” So naturally Elijah fled for his life. It wasn’t long before his despair and hopelessness caught up with him though. In his weakened state, he cried out to God, “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” God, in his bountiful mercy, sent an angel to feed him and encourage him to continue to Mt. Sinai. Sure enough, Elijah made it to the mountain and expected to hear from God through the mighty wind and earthquake and fire. Surely the God who put to death so many false prophets would speak with a terrifying voice! Alas, his voice was nowhere to be heard except in a gentle whisper. God calmly reassured Elijah with a gentle question, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Well, duh! He was fleeing from the trouble that God had gotten him into! Of course, God knew this. He just wanted to know if Elijah had come to complain, maybe demand to speak to him angrily as the Pope had in that opening joke, or whether Elijah had come prepared to receive yet another assignment in his life’s journey. And Elijah wisely chose the latter.

Now then, it’s interesting that we get to reflect on this passage today, All Saints Sunday. It is meant to be a day to reflect on our lost loved ones from the last year. What could Elijah’s struggles have anything to do with remembering lost loved ones? Well, many who remember are also deeply mired in grief and despair. We, too, walk heavily through our days, perhaps crying out to God to take us from our misery as well. And we can’t feel God’s presence, let alone hear his voice, and we’re lost. But God does hear our pleas. He knows our suffering and finds ways to ease our suffering. He invariably sends us angels to feed and encourage us in our grief. And when we get to the other side of that grief, we shouldn’t go bursting in there all frustrated and spiteful. No, God knows the suffering we go through in that grief. God walks with us in that grief and when we get to the other side of it—when we start to see his light again—God will calmly reassure us and give our lives purpose again. In that grief and despair, it can feel like we have no more purpose in this life and in this life. But God always has a purpose for us. He simply waits for us to get through our self-pity and doubt and sorrow and regret before He gently assigns us our new purpose.

Friends, we can always trust in God’s goodness. He will feed us. He will encourage us. He will empower us to get through whatever this life throws at us. And if it’s too much, well, then He’ll gently call us home where he’ll assign us our heavenly purpose. God always has a purpose for us. God always loves us! But it’s true, there are times when we can get distracted or overwhelmed in this world. In those times, we are called to listen even more keenly. God is always speaking to us, just sometimes in a gentle whisper. We have to keenly listen for his words of guidance and assurance. Jesus tells us, “Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God.” (John 8:47) Who among us doesn’t belong to God? Of course, we ALL belong to God! We are all treasured children of God! As such, we ought to listen gladly to his words even when they’re spoken ever so quietly. Jesus says, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more.” (Mark 4:24) Again, who among us wouldn’t want more understanding of their purpose, especially those who are caught up in grieving lost loved ones? We ALL would!

So as we celebrate this All Saints Day, let us be particularly attentive to God’s words in our lives. And not just his words but his actions too. God sends us angels to feed and encourage us along our journey in this world. Our God is a good and gracious God! And let us not forget the gift of Jesus too. God so graciously sent us his Son to bear our burdens and ease our suffering in this world. Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can scratch them away from me.” (John 10:27-28) What wonderful words to hear! Thanks be to God!

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.