Don't Stay in Your Cave

SCRIPTURE

1 Kings 19:1–18 NKJV

1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” 5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

INTRODUCTION

Context: Elijah had just come from a powerful victory on Mt. Carmel, but now he is running for his life, overwhelmed by fear and discouragement.

Theme: In times of fear, fatigue, frustration, and failure, God's gentle voice reminds us to refocus on His calling and to trust in His provision and plan.

MESSAGE

In our scripture text today, a series of events led Elijah to abandon his post as God’s prophet to Israel and run away and hide in a cave. But God did not leave Elijah in the cave. God showed up and asked Elijah, “What are you doing here?” Then God spoke to Elijah through a still small voice and gave him a renewed purpose. Sometimes we can find ourselves in caves of fear, fatigue, frustration, or failure. But God is faithful and He will not leave us there. If you are in a cave and hiding from your purpose, this message today encourages you to DON’T STAY IN YOUR CAVE. The still small voice of God is calling you out to come out of your cave into a renewed purpose.

We Can’t Outrun Our Problems (Fleeing in Fear) (vv. 1-4)

Fear: (v. 3) - And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life...

Fatigue: (v. 4) - But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree...

Frustration: (v. 4) - ...”It is enough!”...

Failure: (v. 4) - ...“Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

Illustration: The Escapee in the Storm - A man facing a terrible storm on the open sea tried desperately to escape its fury by rowing his small boat in the opposite direction. He thought if he rowed far enough, he could outrun the storm and find peace. Despite his efforts, the storm only seemed to grow fiercer the farther he went. The wind howled, the waves crashed higher, and he realized that no matter how fast or how far he tried to escape, the storm was always right behind him, following his every move. Exhausted and terrified, he finally turned the boat around and rowed back toward the storm, hoping to find shelter on the shore. As he approached, he discovered that the only way to survive was not by fleeing but by facing the storm head-on, where he found safety in the shelter of a nearby cove.

Application: Elijah, after experiencing fear and fleeing from Jezebel, tried to escape his problems by running away into the wilderness. But just like the man trying to outrun the storm, Elijah discovered that running away from our fears and struggles only makes them seem bigger. True peace and restoration come not by escaping but by facing God’s presence and His purpose, even in the midst of the storm.

Lesson: We can’t outrun our problems. When we try, we often end up more exhausted and overwhelmed. But when we turn to God, even in the midst of our fears, He provides the peace, guidance, and strength we need to face our challenges and find safety in His presence.

God Prepares us Patiently (Finding Refreshment) (vv. 5-8)

Times of Recovering: (vv. 5-6) - The first meal was a time of recovering his strength.

Times of Preparing: (vv. 7-8) - The second meal was a time of preparing for the long journey ahead.

Illustration: The Gardener and the Wilted Plant - Imagine a gardener walking through their garden on a hot summer day. They notice one of the plants has wilted, its leaves drooping under the intense sun. It hasn’t had enough water, and it looks like it might not survive. Instead of pulling it out and discarding it, the gardener kneels beside the plant. They gently water the roots, loosen the soil, and shade it from the harsh sun. Over the next few days, the plant begins to revive. Its leaves perk up, and it stands strong once again.

Application: This is what God does for us in seasons of exhaustion or discouragement. Like Elijah under the broom tree, we may feel like we can’t go on. But God, the Master Gardener, doesn’t discard us. Instead, He refreshes us with His provision—whether through rest, nourishment, encouragement, or time in His presence.

Lesson: Just as the gardener doesn’t expect the plant to revive instantly, God prepares us patiently, equipping us for what lies ahead. Elijah wasn’t just given food and rest for his present needs but also strength for a 40-day journey to Mount Horeb, where God would meet him again. Similarly, God’s care in our low moments prepares us for His ongoing purposes in our lives.

Our Faithfulness Has a Greater Purpose (Facing the Question) (vv. 9-10)

The Shelter: (v. 9) - Elijah hides in a cave, retreating from his mission.

The Question: (v. 9) - God asks, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” inviting him to reflect on his choices.

The Honest Answer: (v. 10) - Elijah expresses his feelings of isolation, frustration, and failure.

Illustration: The Employee Who Felt Overlooked - A dedicated employee had worked tirelessly for years at a company, going above and beyond their responsibilities. They poured their heart into every project, often staying late and sacrificing personal time. But despite their efforts, they felt unappreciated. Promotions went to others, and their contributions seemed unnoticed. One day, during a performance review, their manager asked, “How are you doing?” The employee, overwhelmed with frustration, let it all out: “I’ve worked harder than anyone else, given everything I’ve got, and yet it feels like none of it matters. It’s like I’m the only one who cares about this work, and it’s exhausting.”

Application: Elijah’s response to God in verse 10 echoes this sentiment. He feels alone, overlooked, and burned out: “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.” Elijah believed his efforts were in vain, and his despair blinded him to the bigger picture. Like the employee who didn’t see the full scope of their contributions or the impact on others, Elijah didn’t yet realize God’s unseen work.

Lesson: We, too, can feel isolated and overwhelmed when our efforts seem fruitless. But God, like the manager who listens patiently and provides clarity, reminds us that we’re not alone and that our faithfulness has a greater purpose than we can see.

Listen to His Still Small Voice (Feeling God’s Presence) (vv. 11-12)

The Demonstration: (vv. 11-12a) - God’s power is displayed in the wind, earthquake, and fire, but He is not in them.

Wind - God was in the wind when Moses parted the Red Sea.

Earthquake - God was in the earthquake that swallowed up those in Korah’s rebellion.

Fire - God was in the fire that Elijah just saw come down from heaven on Mt. Carmel.

The Whisper: (v. 12b) - God’s gentle voice speaks to Elijah in the stillness.

Illustration: The Whisper of a Parent - A child wakes up in the middle of the night during a thunderstorm, frightened by the howling wind, crashing thunder, and flashes of lightning. The noise feels overwhelming, and they cry out for their parent. The parent comes into the room, sits beside the child, and gently whispers, “I’m here. You’re safe.” The child begins to calm down, not because the storm has stopped, but because the soft voice of someone they trust reassures them. The whisper, though quiet, carries more power than the storm outside.

Application: Elijah witnessed dramatic displays of God’s power—the wind, earthquake, and fire—but God was not in those forces. Instead, He chose to speak through a “gentle whisper” (v. 12). This illustrates that God’s presence often isn’t found in the loud or dramatic but in the quiet moments when we pause to listen.

Lesson: Like the frightened child, we can be overwhelmed by the storms in our lives. We may expect God to intervene in big, dramatic ways, but He often speaks softly, reminding us of His presence and guiding us with His peace. The key is to quiet ourselves and listen to His still, small voice.

He’s Not Finished With Us Yet (Fulfilling the Mission) (vv. 13-18)

The Repetition: (vv. 13-14) - God asks again, “What are you doing here?” prompting Elijah to repeat his response.

The Recommissioning: (vv. 15-17) - God renews Elijah’s mission, instructing him to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha.

The Reassurance: (v. 18) - Elijah learns he is not alone—7,000 others in Israel remain faithful.

The Renewed Purpose: God shows Elijah that His plans are greater than Elijah’s perspective.

Illustration: Getting Back on Mission - Picture a ship sailing across the ocean, guided by a compass. The captain has a clear destination, but along the way, a fierce storm hits. The winds blow the ship off course, and the captain is forced to anchor in a safe harbor. While the crew takes shelter, they begin to doubt the journey. The storm made the mission feel impossible, and staying in the harbor feels safer than venturing back out. But as the skies clear, the captain reminds the crew, "The harbor is not where we’re meant to stay. We’ve repaired the ship, the compass still points the way, and our mission hasn’t changed. It’s time to set sail again."

Application: Like that ship, Elijah had been driven off course by the "storm" of Jezebel’s threats and his own discouragement. He took shelter in a cave, but God reminded him that the mission was still ahead. God didn’t abandon him; instead, He gave Elijah the strength to move forward and the assurance that he wasn’t alone.

Lesson: In our lives, storms may knock us off course—fear, failure, or exhaustion can cause us to anchor in a "harbor" of safety and retreat. But God’s mission for us hasn’t changed. When He calls us out of our caves or safe harbors, it’s a reminder that He’s not finished with us yet.

CONCLUSION

Revisit the Theme: In times of fear, fatigue, frustration, and failure, God's gentle voice reminds us to refocus on His calling and to trust in His provision and plan.

Summary:

We Can’t Outrun Our Problems

God Prepares us Patiently

Our Faithfulness Has a Greater Purpose

Listen to His Still Small Voice

He’s Not Finished With Us Yet

Call to Action:

Don’t Try to Outrun Your Problems - Address them Head On

Don’t Be Overcome by Exhaustion - Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work

Don’t Get Discouraged by the Mundane - Understand Your Faithfulness is Part of the Process

Don’t Miss God by Relying Only on Big Dramatic Moments - Listen for God’s Still Small Voice

Don’t Stay in the Cave - Go Complete the Mission