“What Are You Doing Here?”

So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”—1 Kings 19:13

It was a glorious day of victory for Israel and the Lord. Elijah had faced off with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, where God sent a stream of fire from Heaven and consumed Elijah’s sacrifice. At God’s command, Baal’s prophets had been slain, and Jezebel, the wife of wicked King Ahab, wanted Elijah dead.

So inexplicably, the courageous Elijah, having just faced all those prophets, ran in terror and hid himself in a cave. Then the Bible tells us there was a mighty, rushing wind, followed by an earthquake and a big fire. After that, God asked Elijah a question: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:13).

I wonder if the Lord would say that to some of us sometimes. Maybe it’s when you’re in a group of people and things are happening that you shouldn’t be around. Maybe people are doing drugs or getting drunk. And the Lord says, “What are you doing here?” Or maybe you’re in a movie and a scene comes on that is not the kind of scene you should be watching. Everyone is enjoying it, and you are feeling a little uncomfortable. The Lord whispers, “What are you doing here?”

When Judas came to betray Jesus, He said, “Friend, why have you come?” (Matthew 26:50). Did Jesus know why Judas came to the garden with a bunch of soldiers and the temple guard? Of course Jesus knew. However, Jesus wanted Judas to say he was there because he had been planning to betray Him, but he wanted to repent. But Judas didn’t repent.

God knows everything that we have done, and He wants us to admit our sins, to confess them. Sometimes God will ask us a question designed to do that. So what question is God asking you today?