February 20 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

Elijah's name is his mission: "My God is the LORD." Elijah teaches us the meaning of repentance by the removal of idolatry. Unless we obey the Word, God's blessings don't descend. Instead, the land will experience a terrible drought.

Bible Reading:

1 Kings 19:9–14

Bible Text:

After the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face (1 Kings 19:12–13).

Devotional:

Mount Horeb, or Sinai, is the place where it all started. Here God made a covenant with Israel. God told his people how to worship, and he promised to be their God forever.

Now Elijah came to Mount Horeb to tell the LORD that the great experiment of God's covenant with Israel turned out to be a disaster. "The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death."

Elijah is allowed to bring his report to God personally. The LORD himself will meet with Elijah in a scene that is very similar to the one in which he gave Moses a glimpse of his glory.

Standing atop the mountain, Elijah waited for God to pass by. First a powerful wind, then a devastating earthquake, and then a devouring fire surrounded him. But God was not in any of them. Wind, earthquake, and fire are God's servants. But the LORD communicates with Elijah in a gentle whisper—a word in the wind. Elijah hears and understands and covers his face.

Sometimes we are as desperate as Elijah. The cause of God seems to gain too few and lose too many. The church of Christ remains small and is often unfaithful. The Jezebels and Baals of our time still seem to be in the driver's seat. We wish God's hurricane would blast them away.

But the LORD God chooses to communicate by Word and Spirit. We meet him in the gospel and by the Spirit. God's quiet Word will be victorious, and all nations will submit to the rule of the Lamb.