Hiding In A Cave
More and more people are hiding out these days. That is a reference to a man-cave, mom-cave, etc-cave. These are areas where everything you need is close at hand in one room or area. A man cave may have his gaming console, computer, stereo, music, along with a refrigerator and plenty of food and drinks and a bathroom is not far away. In the Bible, we read of some wayward individuals who ran away and hid in a cave.
There is a story in Joshua about five kings running away from the Israelites and hiding in a cave. Joshua trapped them then later executed them and threw their bodies into the cave and covered its opening up.
Young David was being pursued by Saul and his soldiers and he hid in a cave. It just so happened that Saul went into that same cave to relieve himself. After Saul came out and departed some distance, David came out and yelled at Saul that the Lord had given Saul's life into the hand of David, and David had shown Saul mercy.
In 1 Kings 19, we read of Elijah running away from Jezebel and eventually ending up in a cave. God asked him what he was doing in that cave. Elijah said: "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, torn down Thine altars and killed Thy prophets with the sword,. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away" (1 Kings 19:10).
The reason Elijah hid in the cave is because he was afraid for his life. Rather than put his trust in God, he decided to remove himself from everything else.
Don't we do that also, sometimes? Notice back in verse 4 that Elijah requested for himself that he might die. He said "O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers" How often do we feel that life is too hard to bear and ask God to just take our lives? Elijah found out that God still had things for him to do, so the LORD would not honor such a request. Perhaps we get a little upset when we ask God for this last favor and He says NO! You see, God has a plan for us and a usefulness that we are to do. Failing to do what God wants from us is not pleasing to Him. We may be going along and we are tired and it seems like we have been preaching to rocks, so we get depressed and consider that we have been wasting our time. Yet we do not know how God works through us. God may need you to give someone else some encouragement. God may ask you to assist someone no matter what that involves.
One thing is for sure; God does not want you hiding in caves (and that includes our man/woman caves we construct) thinking that you are useless and no longer able to do any good. It may be difficult to get out and contact people, but that is what God wants you to do. God wants you to set an example for others by letting your light shine, and if you stay in your cave, you cannot do this. One aspect of Elijah's story is that God had seven thousand faithful ones at His disposal, and neither are you alone in His service.
By Carey Scott

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