Insignificant in the world, significant in God's eyes

1Kings 19

A glorious miracle now under his belt, Elijah must have felt so bold and strong, now that he has seen God send fire from heaven to affirm Elijah's calling, Elijah's life purpose and His Word to Elijah, in spite of all that, we see Elijah very distressed now. Ahab has gone and told Jezebel all that Elijah did at mount carmel and now Jezebel seeks to kill him all the more. "3 Elijah was afraid [a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." (1 Kings 19:3) In a short moment of time, Elijah said words that were totally unbelievable, to me. Why does this powerful man of God want to die, isn't it wonderful that God is so "visible" through his life, but then I see that this was not such a great time to live in. The Israelites had rejected the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and even killed the prophets of God. Sounds like a time of anti-Christ like time. Yet in this moment, God was working in the times, with Elijah. He was the lone preacher, the lone prophet of the time.

In his despair, Elijah cried to God and was so tired he slept under a broom tree and "All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God."
After this God met him at the cave in Horeb, gave Elijah the assignment of anointing Elisha and Jehu, also God let Elijah know "18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.". This tells me that God knows ALL His people, whether other people know them or not.

Lessons I learnt

1. God examines the people of the earth-"The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them." Psalm 11:3-5 Before we can tell God of the oppressor, God already knows, He has been examining them.
2. God had been keeping track of his own people, though Elijah did not know of other followers of the Living God-"But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love " Psalm 33:17-19
3. God has His eyes on His people, to listen to their cries-"The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;"Psalm 34:14-16 There is never a time, when God is not listening to His children's cries. When Elijah cried out to God to kill him, God knew that Elijah needed food for strength and not death, so God provided him with what Elijah needed. What if God would have listened to Elijah's cry word for word!!! We wouldn't have known of the fire chariots and stuff I guess. It is good that God does not give us exactly as our heart desires, He knows what we need more than we do.

Conclusion:Whether others have noticed you or not, like those 7000 people who were yet faithful to God, God knows you. God has been keeping track of the believers in Jesus Name no matter how insignificant they have been. Those insignificant people whom Elijah didnt know, were in the message of strength from God to Elijah. It was so important for their existence to be mentioned to Elijah so that he could go on. Though these 7000 people's names are not mentioned, but they have been mentioned by God Himself at a time when Elijah had given up, Elijah wanted to die, Elijah was lonely. God knew the importance of the mention of these 7000 insignificant, unnamed believers of the Living God. Every child of God has a purpose, though may seem insignificant to the eyes of the world, they are critical in God's plan and God's eyes are always watching out for His children, no matter where they are.