Sub-Topic: Run and Hide
Greetings!
Have you ever been caught red-handed by a parent or older relative while in the midst of wrongdoing? Now, everyone of us can say, YES!!! 😎 Did you notice the time (or times) they said nothing but you heard their presence loud and clear? You were caught red-handed, i.e., you were guilty as charged for disobedience. Did you (in your shame) try to cover it up AND run and hide but found out there was no where to go? Think about it.
First Scenario—
Can you guess who were first to be caught red-handed and attempted to run and hide? Adam and Eve! In the wake of the fruit they ate of the tree in the midst of the garden of Eden, they tried to cover up the sin … so they made fig leaves to hide their nakedness, but the leaves only represented the intent to conceal the shame of deception and disobedience.
Second Scenario—
Elijah’s response to run from the death threat message of Jezebel. He hid his face in unbelief because he thought he was the only prophet of the Lord alive … but not so. (See: 1 Kings 19).
Run & Hide—
It began after Ahab told Jezebel that her four hundred fifty prophets were put to death by Elijah. She sent him a message ‘saying, so let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.’ Elijah ran into the wilderness terrified by her death threat. He went for his life and came to Beersheba. Then ran a day’s journey into the wilderness and solemnly requested to die. He laid down and slept. Later, an angel touched him to arise, eat a cake and drink a cruse of water.
After a second time Elijah ate a cake and drank water for strength, he went to Horeb (mount Sinai) the mount of God. When he arrived at the cave, the word of the Lord came to him, and God said unto him, why are you here?
“And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
—1 Kings 19:10
Noise, Violence & Silence—
Then the word of the Lord said, go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. The Lord passed by; Elijah entered the cave in the mount, and four things happened:
- A great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind.
- After the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
- After the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire.
- After the fire a still small voice.
Now, in the first three elements were noise and violence but the Lord did not reveal His quiet presence to Elijah. And, neither the noise nor violence induced Elijah to clam up his face in his garment. But, as soon as he heard the still small voice, he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. In the dread of the silence of the Lord’s presence, Elijah was sensible to know he was neither worthy of (nor able to endure) the sight of God with an open face.
Factoids—
Moses was put into the cave in Mount Sinai when God’s glory passed before him, but Elijah was called out of the cave when the Lord passed by him.
Along with Moses and Elijah, Isaiah did not see any manner of God’s similitude, i.e., they did not see His face with their natural eyes. Moses and Elijah saw His back parts (Exodus 33:23; 1 Kings 19:11) …but… in Isaiah 6, he ‘saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up’ with his spiritual eyes (not his natural eyes). Remember, the Lord said, no man shall see His face, and live (Exodus 33:20).
As Isaiah said, “…Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
—Isaiah 6:5
Silence Speaks Louder—
Meanwhile, what did the still small voice say that caused Elijah to wrap his face up in his mantle and run outside the cave? Nothing! However, the glory of the Lord was revealed to Elijah in absolute silence—it was contrary to all the noise and violence.
When the Spirit of the Lord is perceived (and His presence recognized) before or after vehement elements—we lament. Also, where the Spirit of the Lord is manifest and obeyed, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).
Conclusion—
After the word of the Lord told Elijah ‘there were seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him’ … Elijah still did not believe. Consequently, he was moved to early retirement from the office of prophet and it was passed on to his servant Elisha by the Lord.
Remember, there is no place to run and hide from the Lord. He is everywhere at ALL times. He sees and hears everything ALL the time. The best thing to do when (or if) caught red-handed is to come clean and confess. Be sure to fully agree with what God said you are guilty of; He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse on the spot.
Friends, let us run in the right direction and hide in the most secured location—under the shadow of His wings.
Be blessed.
In Christ We Do Remain
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