Today’s Scripture

Psalm 16         1 Kings 19:9b-21        Galatians 5:1, 13-25   Luke 9:51-62

 

            Grace, mercy and peace to all of you from God our heavenly father and Jesus Christ who is our risen and ascended Lord and Savior.  Amen.

 

            Today we continue our summer sermons based on the Old Testament readings.  As we study these accounts God has recorded for us, we ask how are these things like what we experience today in this world, in our personal lives, and as God’s message to us today as it is for always.  Today’s reading is about Elijah’s dialogue with God at Mount Horeb.

 

            Read 1 Kings 19:9b-21  (the account of Elijah and the Lord at Mount Horeb)

 

            “What are you doing here?”  What are you doing here today anyway?  Also, isn’t that a question you ask of yourself at many times and in many instances.  How easy it is to cry out to God and say, “Why me?” or “What am I here for?”  Wouldn’t it be good if God would appear and answer your questions in real black-and-white explanations?

 

            Elijah had had enough!  He had survived the drought.  He had experienced the unending oil and flour in the widow’s home.  He had participated in God’s miracle bringing the widow’s dead son back to life that reassured her of God’s love and that Elijah was a messenger from God.  He had answered the challenge from the prophets of Baal about who is the real god?  In that episode God did humiliate the Baal worshipers and bore witness to his almighty power.  The famine ended as God now sent rains as the people killed the prophets of Baal.  Now the queen, Jezebel, threatens Elijah with his life as all the other prophets had been killed also.  Elijah has had enough and runs from this threat and cries out to God, “I have had enough, take my life,” [19:5].

 

            God sends an angel to feed and strengthen Elijah and directs him to the desert to Mt. Horeb (Sinai).  Elijah travels forty days and forty nights to get there.  Then God says to him, “What are you doing here?”  Isn’t that the question Elijah asks of himself?  Isn’t that the question you and I ask ourselves from day to day as well?

 

            Then God gives an interesting demonstration.  He sends a powerful wind – no God.  He sends an earthquake – no God.  He sends a fire – no God.  Then God appears in a whisper, so unlike how we think he might be.  It is so unlike how the world expects to see God in this time too.

 

            God comes calmly in the middle of the night as Jesus is born in a stable isolated from the hubbub of the busy world around him.  God comes calmly from day to day as Jesus walked the towns and villages of Israel.  God quietly goes to the altar in self-sacrifice to win a victory.  He does not win that victory in jubilant procession with armies and attendants around him.  God comes to you in his word, pure and simple.  There are no great revelations such as lightening strikes.  Just that simple whisper as he gently calls you by the Gospel, the good news of Jesus who delivers you from the judgment of your sinful condition.

 

            “Why are you here?”  God asks Elijah, he asks you.  Elijah responds how he has been so zealous for the Lord yet he is pursued and there are no faithful people left but him.  Yes, as Christians, we certainly do feel alone in this world.  It seems so unfair that the wicked get off the hook and the unscrupulous live lavish life-styles.  Yet here I am, working my way through things, paying off the mortgage and the rising taxes.  Even expenses at Immanuel go up with electric increases, the cost of the school, salaries and benefits, and we are even expected to help support the district and synod and other mission activities elsewhere?  Thousands upon thousands here in Des Plaines (let alone the rest of the metropolitan area, our state, nation and world) seem to get along just fine without “church,” or is it without “Faith.”

 

            “What are you doing here?”  God turns the focus around telling Elijah that there are still seven thousand in Isarael who have not bowed down to Baal.  God turns the focus around telling you that there are still quite a number of faithful at Immanuel as we just pulled off a Vacation Bible School with nearly twenty adults helping and over forty young children attending, some who were not even members here.  “What are you doing here?” God turns the focus around reminding Elijah that it is not the seemingly “Big Box” events that work the miracle of faith, but the quiet witness of his word through living faithful lives and exchanging one on one with each other what great gifts God gives.  “What are you doing here? God turns the focus around with simple water in baptism God comes to you in the simple waters of baptism connected with his triune name (remember Naaman wondering about washing in the Jordan vs. a more significant river?).  God turns things around in simple bread that is always there, and simple wine that does not deteriorate as do other beverages, wine whose content (alcohol) can cleanse a wound as Jesus’ blood that is present cleanses all of your sins. 

 

            “What are you doing here?” God asks those who retreat from the world around them or wonder why they are in a place not of their choosing.  “What are you doing here?” God asks you to reflect through the situation you are in and to see the opportunities that strengthen your own faith as well as sharing that faith with another.  “What are you doing here?” God asks as you look at the interesting blessings he gives day in and day out, but most importantly the blessing of forgiveness of sins and eternal life with him.  “What are you doing here?” God asks you to look past the winds that tear you apart, past the earthquakes that shake your foundations, and past the fires that appear to consume your hopes,  and listen to his gentle call, “I love you.”  He continues saying, “Yes, I hate sin and punish those who defy me.  Yes, I love you and offer you this complete forgiveness that frees you from the guilt of your sins.”

 

            God continues saying, “I love not only you, but those who do not believe.  You are the one I have given my word to take to them.  I will not destroy the unbelievers in your presence.  Today is your opportunity to bring my word to them.  The Holy Spirit will work it from there.  I love you in the waters of baptism that have washed you once for all, and are there to wash others too.”

 

            “What are you doing here?” if you come and sit a few moments on a Sunday morning (Wednesday evening) and do not carry this message out to another?  “What are you doing here?” Jesus asks as he reminds us that he did not have an earthly home, but did all things in order to bring us with him to his heavenly home.  That is our hope and what we are here to rejoice in, to give thanks and praise in, and to share with the rest of this community, nation and world.

 

            In Jesus’ undying love.  Amen.