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gives enough of grace so that you can say, “ I have enough now to last me a long time.” There would be no faith in that. It is not God’s way. A lesser love would manifest itself by giving for all time and so be rid of the burden. Not so God. He wants us conscious of His care and watchfulness— day by day. This is illustrated by the history of Israel in the wilderness,— the cloud and the manna. An angel touched him, as was the case with Daniel after three weeks of mourning and fasting (Dan. 10:10-19); with Paul (Acts 27:23, 24); with our Lord Himself (Matt. 4:11). How ten der the compassions of God. He will not let him die like that. He sets be fore him a royal meal, prepared by an gel hands. Ravens, a widow, an angel, — all were God’s messengers (Psa. 103:13): “L ik e as a F ath er p ltleth his children, so the Lord p ltleth them th at fear him ; fo r he kn ow etb oar frame; he rem em - hereth th a t w e are dust.” God provides first for Elijah’s phy sical needs,-—He furnished for him a table in the wilderness and refreshed his body with divine food. There is an intimate relation between body, soul and spirit. Elijah, refreshed, journeys for nearly two hundred miles farther to Mount Horeb— the awful mountain—where God gave the Law. Here he hid in a cave. God came and spake to him, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” So God questioned Adam, “Where art thou?” And Cain, “Where is thy brother?” You cannot get away from God. (Psa. 139:1-12). Elijah was moping, which was un manly. He was doubting, which was faithless. Is this a place for a prophet? Are there no souls to warn? No saint 3 to help? Listen to his excuse: “ I have been jealous for the Lord God of hosts.” Who was Elijah? An instrument. Who made him? God. God instructs him by a parable,—
“ Go forth and stand before the Lord.” The wind, the earthquake, the fire, the mighty element^, were not the greatest expression of power. They were the evidences of God’s power in judgment.- Here in this mountain,— perhaps near this very spot,-—God had manifested Himself to Moses. To both Moses and Elijah the manifestation had come af ter the slaughter of idolaters. God will in no wise clear the guilty, but He is also merciful. Then came the still, small voice. This moved Elijah. God’s work in the heart is the great work. (Matt. 4 :4 ), “ Man shall not live by bread alone.” The real force in the world is a divine life. This is the secret of force in nature and in the life of the believer (Zech 4 :6 ): “Th is Is th e word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying;, Not b y m igh t, nor b y power, but b y m y spirit, saith the Lord o f hosts.” Israel was not to be restored by mighty movements. Vengeance was to come to the nation. Hazael’s troops would shake the earth. Jehu should sweep down like a whirlwind. Judg ment should overtake them like fire, and yet Eiisha would come with his "small voice.” The world is to be reached— so far as it can be reached —by love Elijah went forth and stood dn the mouth of the cave, and again God speaks, “ What doest thou here, Eli jah?” (3) THE PROPHET DIVINELY DI RECTED, vs. 15-18. The Lord has work, for Elijah. He casts not off His servants. “ Go, re turn.” God always has a remnant, “ I have left me seven thousand in Israel.” “ Be of good courage.” So Elijah, that ran for his life from a woman, and prayed that his life might be taken, was spared to be translated. Let us listen to God’s message to those who sit shrouded in sorrow, “ Go forth!” To those who, listless, lie in ease, “ Go forth!” To those who are
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