'What are you doing here, Elijah?" (1 Kings 19).

Elijah entered Israel's history like a tempest and went out in a whirlwind.

So great was his fame, that he was caught up into the air by the Spirit of God, and carried to and fro at will.

Elijah served God well. He was God's surgical knife, lancing the festering sore of Israel's idolatry. Elijah was the rod in God's hand, chastening Israel for its disobedience.

Elijah was God's mouthpiece, pronouncing judgement of drought on the land. At the mere mention of his name, we think of earthquake, storm and fire; the scourge of evil kings and the prophet of doom.

But there was another side to Elijah's character and career. God used him to anoint prophets and kings, among them the great prophet Elisha, who was to take up his mantle. Elijah was the most colourful, amazing and important man alive in his generation.

How did he come by all this, you may ask. Only through a long and severe period of schooling in what we might call "God's school of faith". By means of one experience after another, God taught his prophet. I want to share with you two truths about this great man of God - the letter 'P' will help us.

Firstly, Elijah learned the lesson of provision. Faithful as God's spokesman, he had pronounced judgement of drought (1 Kings 17:1), but how was he supposed to eat? In essence God said, "I'll feed you...drink the water of the brook, and I'll send ravens to feed you!" Elijah had to depend on God to provide. He had to! Oh, that we would learn this lesson. Abraham learned it; Paul learned it. But some never learn this lesson. Why? They lack Elijah's faith.

Secondly, Elijah learned the lesson of God's presence. He had run away from Jezebel but not from God. A voice asked, "What are you doing here, Elijah?". There was no point in trying to hide his feeling from God. Elijah was familiar with earthquakes...storms and fires, but this "gentle whisper" was a new experience, the real presence of God.

To summarise, there are time when God does feed us by ravens and answers by fire, but at other times he must lock us in a cave for a time in order for us to hear his small voice and learn the wonder of his presence.

THIS WEEK'S THOUGHT: One reason the dog has so many friends: he wags his tail, instead of his tongue.