Following The One Who Calls

 

Before Elijah could ever be used on Mt. Carmel, he had to learn how to wait on the Lord. 

Elijah’s calling was to be a prophet, and he faithfully served the Lord for a time in that calling. But then there came a time for a deeper work of God in Elijah, so God called him to learn about the agony of wait at Brook Cherith. And if Elijah had been more focused on following his calling than on following the One Who called him, that deeper work would never have been accomplished— a deeper work that was critical for what God intended to do through Elijah on Mt. Carmel. 

As believers in Christ, He calls us and appoints us that we “should go…” (John 15:16). But when we look at Elijah, we see at one point in his service to God, his “go…” was to Brook Cherith. Before God could use Elijah on Mt. Carmel, He had to break Elijah from himself and any attempt he might make at confusing his own will with the Lord’s. The Lord had to teach Elijah the difference between following his calling and following the One Who calls. 

Moses was called to lead Israel out of bondage, but before God told him to “go” confront pharaoh, He led him to “go” learn the agony of wait in the Midian desert. Jesus was called to die for the sins of mankind, but before God told Him to “go” to the cross, He told Him to “go” be stripped of self in the Judean desert. Because there is desire born of human will, and there is desire born of God’s will, and for those who are called and chosen, it is critical for us to learn the difference— we must never assume they are one-in-the-same when it comes to bearing fruit for the Lord.

If our focus is upon following our calling, we may be following our own desire without realizing it. Thus, like Elijah, Moses, and even our Lord Himself, we must be taught the difference between following our perceived calling, or following the One Who calls. 

(Ex 3:1) Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

(1 Kings 17:2) Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan.”

(Mark 1:11-13) And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” And immediately the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.

(Isaiah 30:18) Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.

(Isaiah 25:9) And in that day it will be said, "Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation."