Dear Tabernacle Family,
Remember when Elijah fearlessly faced Ahab in one of the most unthinkable challenges of all time? (1 Kings 18:16-46) Elijah spoke to the 450 prophets on Mount Carmel, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him, but if Baal is God, follow him.” Mount Carmel was the ultimate throw down. Elijah called down fire from heaven to miraculously burn up the altar. Elijah bravely and boldly declared that God is God! But it wasn’t until hours later that his fearless obedience grew dark after receiving Queen Jezebel’s message that she was going to kill him. Struck by fear, he ran, terrified he would be killed like the rest of the prophets she shamelessly picked off.
Fear took over. Hopelessly defeated, he sat under a tree and begged God to take his life. The fear and anxiety of losing his life was crippling to him. But God, in His mercy and love, provided for his needs and He told him to “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Hours earlier, Elijah had witnessed the great and mighty power of God. He didn’t need to see the great power in the life-threatening winds, explosive earthquake, or the blazing fire. The whisper of God’s still small voice changed everything. Pulling his cloak over his face, Elijah was humbled in God’s presence. Elijah’s fear wasn’t rooted in losing his life to Jezebel. It was that he didn’t know God’s plan. It wasn’t a lack of faith in His power. It was a lack of trust in His plan. He feared what he didn’t know. He felt alone, trapped, and hopeless until the still small voice reassured him he was not alone. God’s hope for him was that He had reserved a remnant!
Given all that is going on in the world right now, we might not understand God’s plan. Our future may be uncertain but God says fear not! Don’t run and hide due to fear of the unknown and the questions of what lies ahead. I believe God is saying to us as a church, “Come up to the mountain. Meet me there. Hear my still small voice. Here is the hope I have for you; that I have reserved a remnant to rise up in faith. You are not alone. You don’t have to run and hide.” He is whispering His truth to us. Let’s join together as the remnant. Humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, turn from our wicked ways and THEN HE will hear from heaven and heal our land. (2 Chron 7:14) Together we will rise. Together we will cry out. Together we will overcome. Look up, see a cloud, and hear the still small movement.
In His Name,
Pastor Jenn Cupicha
Children's Education Pastor