A New Perspective Seven Thousand Times Better

O. T. #803 "A New Perspective Seven Thousand Times Better"
August 1, 2016
1 Kings 19-Part 5
Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed to Baal or kissed him!
1 Kings 19:18

LET IT GLOW

When I look at my situation from my perspective and not God's perspective, the view gets out of whack, out of focus, and I don't see through eyes of faith. I don't see what really is true, what it can become, nor reality. I have been in the cave of discouragement far too long with Elijah. It is time to get up. Time for us to go stand on the mountain of the Lord where we can see through the eyes of hope, and get a new perspective that is 7,000 times better than mine is.

Elijah had to get out of his cave of discouragement and stand on the mountain before he experienced Gods three phenomenal acts using nature-windstorm, earthquake, and fire. Then God spoke using a soft, whispering voice. He asked Elijah what he was doing there in a cave, twice even. Now it seems to me, if He has to ask twice what a person is doing "there," then perhaps they are in the wrong place, not where God wants them to be.
Is God asking us what we are doing in our cave?

 What were the instructions that Elijah received from God?

• Go back the same way he came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus.
• Anoint Hazael king of Aram, Syria, who was Israel's enemy on her northern border.
• Anoint Jehu, a captain in Ahab's army, as king of Israel.
• Anoint Elisha to replace him as the  prophet of God.
• Anyone who escapes Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will killed by Elisha.
• God tells Elijah that He preserved 7,000 others in Israel who never bowed down to Baal or kissed him (showed loyalty)!

God was still controlling the events. The spiritual situation in Israel was 7,000 times better than Elijah had thought. Elijah received hope. He would see his situation from God's perspective.


LET IT GROW

Those three were commissioned to destroy Baal worshipers-Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha were used to complete what Elijah had begun. Success was coming.

By the time the last of these men died (2 Kings 13:24), Baalism would be officially barred from Israel. (MacArthur)

We are all in the kingdom work together, so there should not be jealousy. Elijah had more work to do before he was through.
When we have wondered off the right path, hide in a cave or sit under our juniper tree, so to speak, we need to listen for God's still small voice reassuring us that we are not alone, and giving us His next assignment. Then get up and go, obeying. After all, there are at least 7,000 faithful followers of Jesus out there looking for us!


LET IT GO

Let God heal my wounds.

Leave fear, discouragement, and loneliness behind.

Focus on God, not the seemingly failures. Be an overcomer.

Walk faithfully on the path He has prepared for His purposes.