Jesus Christ is our rock on which we build and find our refuge in Him as saints. Referring to this truth, I would like to address Elijah in this context, who stayed in the cave on mount Horeb after hearing of Jezebel's devastating plan (see Psalm 18:2; Psalm 31:3 i.c.w. 1 Kings 19:1-3a).
Psalm 18:2:
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield1 and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 31:3:
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
1 Kings 19:1-3a:
1 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.”
3a Elijah was afraid1 and ran for his life. …
The Power of Jezebel
Taking a closer look at Jezebel's power in a prophetic context, it is a false prophetic voice, destined by the adversary to stop the people of God (note: who are born from above => spirit filled) on their way (see Revelation 2:20 i.c.w. 2 Kings 9:22).
Revelation 2:20:
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
2 Kings 9:22:
22 When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?” “How can there be peace,” Jehu replied, “as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”
At the time of the prophet Elijah Jezebel was the wife of king Ahab, who treated her husband and the prophets of God in a tyrannical manner and officially introduced idolatry to Baal in Israel.
Because of Jezebel's intimidation, Elijah escaped from her sphere of influence to save his life. That influence of intimidation is very common in terms of this spiritually evil force of Jezebel. By doing so he finally entered the phase of exhaustion and discouragement to an extent that he merely wanted to die (see 1 Kings 19:4-5a).
1 Kings 19:4-5a:
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.”
5a Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. …
But God strengthened him through the presence of an angel who had given him supernatural food which Elijah took in the natural realm (see 1 Kings 19:5b-8).
1 Kings 19:5b-8:
… 5b All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”
6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”
8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
Elijah and Moses in the Cave
On mount Horeb the prophet Elijah decided to enter a cave, which represents the presence of the being of God and His revelatory truth (see 1 Kings 19:9).
1 Kings 19:9:
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
This location can also be equated with the cleft in the rock on the mountain into which Moses went at the command of God in order to see the glory of God (see Exodus 33:21-22).
Exodus 33:21-22:
21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.
22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.
Even though Moses and Elijah were in a cleft or cave on the mountain of God, there was one significant difference between them. Moses longed to see the glory of God. Elijah, on the other hand, felt being in a hopeless state, so that God revealed His power and presence to him. The reason for this was that Elijah was supposed to receive as to fulfill an important commission by God, which was connected with the administration of the kingdom and prophet hood of the future (see 1 Kings 19:10-13a.15-16).
1 Kings 19:10-13a.15-16:
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
Even though Moses and Elijah were in a cleft or cave on the mountain of God, there was one significant difference between them. Moses longed to see the glory of God. Elijah, on the other hand, felt being in a hopeless state, so that God revealed His power and presence to him. The reason for this was that Elijah was supposed to receive as to fulfill an important commission by God, which was connected with the administration of the kingdom and prophet hood of the future (see 1 Kings 19:10-13a.15-16).
1 Kings 19:10-13a.15-16:
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
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.
13a When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. …
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.
16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.
The Power of God and Five Events
The revelation of the power of God carries herein five different levels or events. These five events can also be transferred to us as saints. When we as God's people get into circumstances in life that are tough and challenging and our soul is shaken by emotional perception, it is advisable to be aware of God's five steps as well as His power and presence.
These five steps are made up as follows:
The revelation of the power of God carries herein five different levels or events. These five events can also be transferred to us as saints. When we as God's people get into circumstances in life that are tough and challenging and our soul is shaken by emotional perception, it is advisable to be aware of God's five steps as well as His power and presence.
These five steps are made up as follows:
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the divine call to step out,
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the supernatural manifestation of a great strong wind that tore the mountains apart,
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an earthquake,
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a fire,
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a gentle breeze.
In this context, it is essential to realize that we must dwell in the revelatory truth of the Word of God, which is representative of Elijah's stay on the mountain in the cave. Here it is crucial that we unite ourselves with the revelatory truth of God for this time to follow His call and find ourselves stepping out of the zone of intimidation and laziness due to fear.
The goal is that we ultimately stand under an open heaven and experience the very presence of God carrying the direction for our future.
In the prophetic context, the five different events that Elijah experienced on the mountain point to the following things:
In the prophetic context, the five different events that Elijah experienced on the mountain point to the following things:
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God's call to step out of the cave and stand on the mountain => God's call to move out of the zone of fear and self-protection by the power of the revelatory truth in order to see the heavens open and to feel God's presence,
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a great, strong wind that tore the mountains apart => a high-ranking angelic movement that carries the Word of God and its revelatory truth for this time to destroy false doctrine and tyrannical rule (see Hebrews 1:7a; e.g. Michael, Gabriel; see Daniel 9:21; Daniel 10:21),
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an earthquake => awakening as well as making visible the inheritance of God in the region (see Matthew 27:51-53; Matthew 28:2),
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a fire => supernatural and passionate servant hood that reveals the greatness of God (see Hebrews 1:7b i.c.w. Matthew 23:11),
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a soft breeze => the presence of God that carries the direction of the future (see John 3:8; John 16:13-15).
These five events point out that it should be important for every individual saint to dwell in the revelatory truth of the Word of God and to respond to His Word. As a result, the Lord shows His power to encourage us to come closer to Him and His presence. The purpose of this is that we will witness how the Lord by His power pulls down false doctrine and tyrannical dominion to pave the way for His promise and servant hood.
As an effect, this approach gives us knowledge about what it means to stand in Jesus' side or in Him as our entrance (note: entrance of the cave/cleft in the rock => birthplace of the new wine skin; see John 19:34; John 10:9). Herein we learn to us our God-given anointing in our relationships to maintain the directive truth of the Spirit, which is connected with the directed dominion of God.
The Center of the Word of God
The Hebrew word used for “cave”, into which Elijah went, is the word “mĕ‛ārāh”, which is derived from the root word “`ārar” and means “expose, grind, tear down”. (note: part excerpt from the Elberfelder Study Bible on the Hebrew word “mĕ‛ārāh – cave” and its root word “`ārar” with the word key number 4708, 6334*)
This explanation makes it clear that Elijah was in the center of the Word of God, formed by God to lay down his own view and receive God's instruction from the mouth of the Son of God for the future (see Hebrews 4:12-13 i.c.w. Revelation 1:16).
Hebrews 4:12-13:
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Revelation 1:16:
16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
Therefore, learning from the way Elijah acted towards challenging circumstances, we too should always humbly react and respond to God's command (note: strategies) in tough seasons in order to secure our future and the next generation.
Revelation 1:16:
16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
Therefore, learning from the way Elijah acted towards challenging circumstances, we too should always humbly react and respond to God's command (note: strategies) in tough seasons in order to secure our future and the next generation.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
