In the movie series, Batman, Bruce Wayne (Batman) said to Alfred his personal most loyal assistance, “I wanted to save Gotham. I’ve failed.” “Why do we fall, sir?” asked Alfred. He continued by answering his own question, “So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.” “You still haven’t given up on me?” countered Bruce Wayne. “Never” replied Alfred.
Bruce Wayne as a child grew up with fear as he experienced and witnessed the tragic death of his parent. As he grew up and become Batman, despite his good works and mighty deeds, he encountered accusers, haters and various enemies. Just like Elijah, sometime in his life, he got depressed, and he went away to retired in a monastery in the East. There he was corrected, guided, taught and strengthened physically, spiritually and mentally.
From there he returned to Gotham city to fight the great battle ahead of him. He then has no fear, and was even ready to sacrifice himself and even took the blame of killing a politician who is behind all the evils in Gotham City. Lastly he appoints his friend (Robin) to take his place as the guardian of the city.
There goes the similarity of Batman and Elijah. Let us now reflect critically on the life of Elijah.
Elijah in the cave:
Why Elijah is hiding in a cave? Why a prophet, a mighty man of God would be doing that? A prophet’s work is to declare the word of the Lord to the people. He should be in a public place not in a cave. The probabilities are: want of success, the corruption of his time and the fear of persecution. The Hebrew name “Elijah” is translated as “My God is Yahweh”. Here the mighty prophet of God is discouraged and depressed. He has been used mightily of the Lord and he had expected a great revival to come to the land; a revival in which the people of Israel would repent of their sins and turn back to God with all their hearts. When this didn’t happen, and when Elijah was threatened by the wicked queen Jezebel, he left as though he and his ministry were a failure. Therefore, he ran away from his position, his problem, and his people.
1. Elijah was not a wise man: In verse 17, we see Elijah questioning God in relation to the death of a child of a widow. He accused God as one who takes life? Job who is older by many generations and civilization is much wiser than Elijah. Job knew God much better than Elijah. For he said, “Shall we receive only good things from God and not bad things?”
It is said that Elijah is a man led by God and obedient to him. Miraculously it is ravens, usually greedy (ravenous) birds that feed the hermit Elijah. Who can harm such? God’s hand was on him and therefore he could eliminate 450 Baal prophets, and he knew this. He might be serviceable to Israel at this time, and had all reason to depend upon God's protection, while doing God's work; yet he flees.
2. Self-justifying and self-righteousness nature of Elijah: God question Elijah twice in verse 9 & 13, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” In response Elijah gives the identical lengthy self-justification regarding his own zeal in contrast to the apostasy of other Israelites, and he continued by saying “I am the only one left.” He disregarded the faithful Obadiah and the possibility that there might have been many more like him. Thus setting no value on the 100 prophets which he knew had been concealed in a cave by Obadiah. And perhaps he saw Obadiah’s position in the royal court as a sign of weakness and compromise or he was jealous of it. See how these things can be a hindrance to a successful ministry.
A still small voice: Elijah's Meeting with God on Horeb.
On Mt. Carmel we saw Elijah the great spiritual leader, saving Israel by his faith and faithfulness. On Mt. Horeb we see him weak, mistaken and in need of God’s rebuke. As Moses had done before him (Ex 24; 33) Elijah hopes to meet God on Mount Horeb. He does not appear: at least, not in impressive natural phenomena (Verse 11-12) and not in demonstrations of violent power as were sometimes cherished in religious arguments, and in countless other examples up to the present day (Hindi movie).
The wind, and earthquake, and fire, did not make him cover his face, but the still voice did. Gracious souls are more affected by the tender mercies of the Lord, than by his terrors. The mild voice of Him, who speaks from the cross, or the mercy-seat, is accompanied with peculiar power in taking possession of the heart. Friends, we need to listen to this still small voice, so that we can prove ourselves worthy of our calling.
God repeated the question, what doest thou here? Then he complained of his discouragement; and whither should God's prophets go with their complaints of that kind, but to their Master? The Lord gave him an answer. He declares that the wicked house of Ahab shall be rooted out, that the people of Israel shall be punished for their sins; and he shows that Elijah was not left alone as he had supposed, and also that a helper should at once be raised up for him. Thus all his complaints are answered and provided for. God's faithful ones are often his hidden ones. The Lord knows them that are his, though we do not; he sees in secret. God's love often proves larger than man's charity, and far more extended.
1Co:13:11-12: When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Amen!
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