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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
him, he again slumbered. A second time the angel of God ministers
to the wants of Elijah. He touches the weary, exhausted man, and in
pitying tenderness says to him: “Arise and eat; because the journey is
too great for thee.” Elijah was strengthened and pursued his journey
to Horeb. He was in a wilderness. At night he lodged in a cave for
protection from the wild beasts.
Here God, through one of His angels, met with Elijah, and in-
quired of him: “What doest thou here, Elijah?” I sent you to the brook
Cherith, I sent you to the widow of Sarepta, I sent you to Samaria
with a message to Ahab, but who sent you this long journey into the
wilderness? And what errand have you here? Elijah mourns out the
bitterness of his soul to the Lord: “And he said, I have been very jeal-
ous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken
Thy covenant, thrown down Thine altars, and slain Thy prophets with
the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take
it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the
Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind
rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks 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: and after the earthquake a
fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small
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voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face
in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave.
And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou
here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God
of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant,
thrown down Thine altars, and slain Thy prophets with the sword; and
I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
Then the Lord manifests Himself to Elijah, showing him that quiet
trust and firm reliance upon God will ever find Him a present help in
time of need.
I have been shown that my husband has erred in giving way to
despondency and distrust of God. Time and again has God revealed
Himself to him by remarkable evidences of His care, love, and power.
But when he has seen that his interest and jealousy for God and His
cause have not been understood or appreciated, he has at times given
way to discouragement and to despair. God has given my husband
and me a special and important work to do in His cause, to reprove