There is an almost mythic story in 1 Kings 18. The people of Israel, led by King Ahab, have, at least from the formal state-sanctioned perspective, all but abandoned God through mingling faiths. Yahweh was still a part of their national identity, but so was Baal, the Canaanite god of rain. Baal worship had worked its way into the formal religious practices of Israel through Ahab’s wife, Jezebel. Jezebel was the daughter of the priest-king of Tyre and Sidon, and she perpetuated her father’s faith by establishing formal worship of the god who could ensure good soil.
The establishment was comfortable keeping the traditions of Yahweh worship around, foundations of the nations as they were, but they could not be described as faithful or godly leaders. Nevertheless, there was a significant minority in the country that were not apathetic or lukewarm to God, but devout and exclusive in their worship. One of these God-devotees was a prophet named Elijah. Because, as is true in all times, most of the visible religious leaders found it advantageous to be connected with the powers of authority, Elijah consistently thought he was the lone voice in the fight for God’s honor. Perhaps it was this idea of being the sole defender of God, and his propensity for the dramatic, that drove Elijah to confront the compromising king of God’s people rather consistently.
During one of these confrontations, similar to an after-school brawl on the playground, Elijah challenges Ahab and the priests of Baal to meet him on Mt. Carmel to prove what god is really the God of gods. Instead of a dance-off, the priests of Baal and Elijah have a sacrifice showdown. Both groups would build altars and sacrifice a bull, preparing the way to interact with their gods. Then, as Elijah says, “you call on the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.’ And all the people gathered around answered, ‘It is well spoken.’” (1 Kings 18:24) Well, to make a long story short, Yahweh is the only God who answers, and the people follow Elijah in revolting against the gods of the system and their priests. At the end of the day, the priests of Baal and Asherah (the queen and eldest deity of the Canaanite pantheon), are dead. And to rub in the humiliation, Yahweh sends a great rain upon Ahab and Israel that will ensure good soil, showing himself to be the true God of rain (see 1 Kings 18 for the full backstory).
Elijah, rightfully so, is full of confidence. He acted on behalf of the Lord, the Lord honored and answered his actions, and the pride and power of the oppressive and unholy authority were shown its limits. But Jezebel was not there. She only heard the story but didn’t witness the works and words of God. She is told Elijah is behind the massacre of her sacred priests, and so she is a bit put off. Jezebel then does what those in power do; she exercises her influence against the annoyer of the status quo, “the troubler of Israel,” Elijah. That’s where we pick up the story in 1 Kings 19:1-18.
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So may the gods do to me, and more also if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.’ Then [Elijah] was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there.
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: ‘It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.’ [Running from fear and losing faith.] Then Elijah lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, ‘Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.’ He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food, forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. At that place, he came to a cave, and spent the night there.
Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’
God said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still, small voice [a gentle whisper, a thin silence]. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your alters, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’ Then the LORD said to him, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be a prophet in your place…I will leave seven thousand [of my royal priesthood] in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.
PREPARATION:
IMPORTANT: Try to make sure you have at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time for this practice. Be realistic and honest about how much space and stamina you have for the quiet components. Some of us will welcome stillness and silence, but most of us will likely struggle to get through even 3-5 minutes of silence—and that is okay! Arrange whatever time you think reasonable (suggested times are provided), and set a timer, it helps. Get into a comfortable position but not too comfortable, so you don’t fall asleep.
PRACTICE:
READ
Now that you are familiar with the context and words, close your eyes and take three deep breaths. As you breathe in, pray “Holy Spirit… and as you breathe out, pray, “…Give me ears to hear.” Ask God to give you an openness to hear whatever the Spirit wishes to bring to you today.
If (when!) your thoughts wander in the stillness, breathe the centering prayer to quiet your mind. Focus on your breaths as you envision breathing in God’s presence.
Now, reread the passage slowly, immersing yourself in that particular encounter. Remember, those who lived this experience felt very much as you would if you had been in their place. As you read,
Listen for a word or phrase or a detail in the story that stands out to you. Don’t choose this yourself, let the Spirit bring it to your mind.
Think about where you find yourself in the passage. Do you identify with the person of Elijah or Jezebel or the angel or Ahab, or someone else? What scene in the story grabs your attention most: the running, the resting, the cave, the hurricane, the wind, the answering voice, etc.?
In any case, do not choose this yourself. Let the Spirit bring it to you. Even if you don’t like it, try to welcome it with humility (it’s key!)and see what happens.
Give yourself 2-3 minutes to ponder the questions and listen quietly.
REFLECT
As you reflect on the passage, consider the following:
·The word or phrase that stood out to you. Why do you think these words resonated with you?
Who or what scene you found yourself identifying within the passage. How does it feel to be that person or be present at that moment? What draws you to them or it? What are you thinking or feeling about God?
Give yourself 3-5 minutes to ponder all this. Then, ask God, “How does this connect with my life today? What do I need to know or be or do?”
RESPOND
Read the passage one last time, preparing yourself for what you want to say to God about what you think the Spirit might have spoken to you or what came to you as you imagined being in the story.
Pray whatever you need to pray. You might thank God for something or confess to God something or ask God for something.
Give yourself 2-3 minutes to respond.
REST
Do as you are led for the last 5 minutes. You may wish to wait quietly on God—to simply be with Jesus. You may want to pay attention to God, pondering a little longer all the ways God interacted with and spoke to Elijah in this passage. Consider what in this story makes you want to worship Jesus, or at least be with him. Sit in the companionship of Jesus—the one who never leaves us alone.