If only you knew
a meditation on 1Kings 17 by Pastor David McFarland
I sat in the ravine at Kerith, alone and cut off from the ministry I loved. Suffering from exhaustion I lay down among the rocks. Suddenly Elijah appeared beside me. For a long time he sat in silence with his head in his hands. At length he turned to me and spoke.
Elijah:
Why am I here? This is does not make sense. I am a spokesman for God; I preach against evil; I confront those who live sinful lives. While I am here the voice of God will be silent.
Me:
I can tell you, Elijah, that your voice is silent only for a time. The next time you speak in public for God, you will speak with a power and impact that you could never believe possible. This nation will know when you speak that the Lord alone is God.
Elijah:
But here I am where there are no resources. I am totally incapable of meeting my basic needs. I have to depend on a spring high in the hills beyond this spot. I know that food is flown in twice a day but for how long will it last? If my prayer isn’t answered, even this supply is bound to dry up.
Me:
Elijah, never fear. Before God is finished with you, he will have provided a miraculous supply of food for you that will not end until the drought is over. He even has a supernatural cook waiting the right moment to prepare a couple of meals for you such as nobody has eaten before – meals that will give you so much strength that you will not need to eat again for the following 40 days.
Elijah:
But this silence is killing me. There is nobody to talk to. I must have someone with whom I can communicate.
Me:
I know, Elijah. Silence and isolation is difficult for a preacher. But sooner than you realise, you will have new friends; one of them, a dear little boy whom you will love. You will raise that strong voice of yours in public and before the King. You will have the most devoted assistant whom you will prepare to do greater things for God than you will do. But for the moment, learn in the silence. Learn to be quiet and listen; listen for the voice of God, for one day He is going to allow you to be closer to Him than a man can normally come and you will be privileged to hear His gentle whisper.
Elijah:
But there is nothing here to do. I am an action man. I like to get things done. I like to be on the move. This could last for ages.
Me:
Hold on Elijah. Take it easy. You are going to be on the move one day. For a start, you are going to go mountain climbing and altar building for God. You are going to destroy hundreds of false prophets. You will outrun the king’s finest chariot horses. But listen to this – you will do something for God nobody has ever done before – you will raise someone from the dead!
Elijah:
Dead! I am the one who will be dead, you mean! I will die an ignominious death here in the wilderness and only those ravens will ever know where I am. The enemies of God will gloat over me.
Me:
If only you could know what a glorious future you have, Elijah. You will go from here to be one of the greatest servants of God this world will ever know and at the end, you will have no funeral and no grave – for you will be taken directly to heaven in a glorious fiery chariot!
Elijah:
Tell me then, why am I here? What is God doing for me?
Me:
Elijah, the question is “what is God doing in me?” He is making you into something. You came here having been a spokesman for God. You will leave here and be called a man of God. (1Kings 17:24) If only you knew ……
Suddenly Elijah was nowhere to be seen. Had he really been here? Had I fallen asleep? Was I dreaming? Then I realised that I was the one who had been asking the questions, not Elijah. And Elijah had reminded me that even when there are no answers, God always is working out His perfect plan for my life.
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
Through the love of God, our Saviour
Through the love of God, our Saviour,
all will be well;
free and changeless is his favor,
all will be well;
precious is the blood that healed us,
perfect is the grace that sealed us,
strong the hand stretched out to shield us,
all will be well.
Though we pass through tribulation,
all will be well;
ours is such a full salvation,
all will be well.
happy when in god confiding,
fruitful if in Christ abiding,
holy through the Spirit’s guiding,
all will be well.
We expect a bright tomorrow;
all will be well;
faith can sing through days of sorrow,
all will be well;
on our Father’s love relying,
Jesus every need supplying
in our living, in our dying,
all will be well.
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Words: Mary Peters, 1847
