By Jim Allen, Editor, NuVote Reach
Photo Credit: ”Elijah’s Cave is nestled at the base of Cape Carmel in Haifa, below the lighthouse and Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery. An important shrine to many religions, the chapel includes the very cave in which the Hebrew prophet Elijah is believed to have lived and taught. Entrance to Elijah’s Cave Photo vad levin.”
Check this out: The prophet Elijah of Israel basically invited 450 prophets of Baal and another 400 prophets of Asherah (who were tight with Queen Jezebel – hater), to meet him after school one day for a smack down on Mt. Carmel.
Elijah also invited all of his homeboys and homegirls to watch the fight (1Kings 18:19).
Meantime, Queen Jezebel, was doing all she could to wipe out the prophets to the people of Israel (she married into the family via King Ahab – a political alliance, which ended up with Israel worshiping Jezebel’s gods).
At the hours-long prophetic dust up on Mt. Carmel—standing room only—basically, Elijah called down some Divine fire which consumed all of the sacrificial offerings of his 850 adversaries, then had them dragged off and killed (today’s reality TV can’t touch this!).
When Jezebel found out what Elijah had done, her knickers got into a major wad.
1Kings:19: Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” (Whoaaa! All this time I thought Jezebel was just a skank! She was gangsta!)
After having been anointed to beat down 850 prophets of lesser gods, Elijah was terrified of Jezebel and ran like Kunte Kinte at sundown. Continuing, 1Kings 19:
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. (Can I get a witness?!).
Poor Elijah, lost his grit (“salt”, I should say). Where this ends up for Elijah is an encounter with God—still in 1Kings 19:
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
God was not in the powerful wind. God was not in the earthquake. God was not in the fire – “After the fire came a gentle whisper… [and]Elijah heard it.”
WOW!!!
Note to self: When everything seems to be in an uproar, perhaps, I should just keep still and listen.
#learningthehardway
What a great way to tell the Carmel story! Thanks for the fresh view – and thanks for stopping by the noontimes blog.
Yours is a very interesting Lenten journey! Thank you!
Perfect title. We cannot run from His purpose for us, can we?
I love your Edie Brickell, et al,, reference, also reminds me of “what I am is What I am” smile. Thanks so much for writing and God bless your expression and your determination not to be unequally yoked!
Hi Jim, Never heard this story put this way before. It was great and thanks for stopping by Minutes with Marian.
Marian, You are too kind! Thanks so much for the encouragements and sharing you gift and giving with me. God Bless!
Reblogged this on Minutes with Marian and commented:
Love the story and love the way it is told by Jim!
Thanks for sharing! You brought this to life for me.
You have a great writing style that kept me captivated. Keep writing. It’s a gift.
I wish I go up as far from the ground as you without crying! Thanks so much. Mr. Tim!
Agreed!
WOW! the way you told this story is awesome! Thanks for stopping by my bog…
Too Kind!!! Thanks
That’s all god said…what are you doing here?
A beautiful piece, well submitted. I like your unconventional view. It’s revealing.
Very Kind, John…you have very thought-provoking pieces on your blog.Thanks for taking the time to ready and write!
Jim, the pleasure is all mine. Cheers!
NICE TO GO THROUGH.
THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING MY BLOG, I TOO AM FOLLOWING YOURS. ALL THE BEST.
It is an honor to make your acquaintance! Your perspective on how special interests, such as forming a woman-only, can be isolating is an intriguing treatment. Thank you for taking the time to write. God Bless!
Such a well written piece and what a way to end. Keeping still and listening when it seems like the world is in chaos. Today has been a day that is full of messages. Thanks for following. Made my day
Very Encouraging. Thanks for writing! Godspeed on the blog re-org! Best, Jim
Just loved your interpretation in street vernacular.
Too Kind!