Joining the 7,000 Club

Elijah, that great prophet, had become disheartened by the moral landslide his nation was experiencing and had fled from the threats of wicked Queen Jezebel. God found him hiding in a cave on Mount Horeb and asked, “Elijah, why are you hiding?”

With indignation, Elijah replied, “God, I've been jealous for your glory, but your people have forsaken your Word, and your ministers have been persecuted. I'm the only one left, and now they're out to get me too."

To all outward appearances, Elijah had a good argument. The government was the most wicked in all history, and his society was nearing a collapse. The government was actually forcing the nation into idolatry.

Elijah was determined to hold out to the end. If the whole nation forsook God, he would stay true! God was not about to congratulate this hiding prophet, though, because the Holy Spirit was moving throughout the land. Elisha, Elijah’s eventual successor, was feeling the first stirrings of God's hand upon him; and Jehu, a powerful young revolutionary, was chomping at the bit, waiting anxiously to declare war on the corruption and godlessness in the land. A great moral awakening was about to happen.

Elijah was most emphatically informed by God, "I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him" (1 Kings 19:18, NKJV). God was trying to tell Elijah that he had his people stationed in key positions all across the nation. Believers were standing tall and true in spite of the corruption around them.

God has been encouraging me to open my eyes to the great calling out of saints that is now taking place in our time. God said to Elijah, "Thousands have not bowed." To us, I believe he is saying, "Millions have not bowed!"

Glory be to God that we are not a tiny remnant! We are an army, a blood-washed multitude, in every walk of life, unbending and uncompromising in an age gone crazy. Satan would like God's people to think their numbers are dwindling fast; he wants true believers to think the majority have already defected to his camp so fear will drive them into hiding. Don't believe the lies of Satan! God is still at work, pouring out his Holy Spirit and drawing hungry hearts to himself.