1 Kings 19:15 And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.
Elijah had just come through one of the most intense seasons of his life. He had called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, seen the prophets of Baal defeated, and yet found himself running in fear from Jezebel, exhausted and discouraged. In the cave at Horeb, he cried out, believing he was alone and that all was lost. But it was there—in the still small voice—that God revealed His presence and His plan.
And then came a surprising command: “Go, return.” Elijah was to leave the place of hiding, the place of despair, and return to the world, back into the midst of God’s unfolding plan. There was still work to do. Elijah was called not just to prophesy, but also to anoint, to prepare the way for new leaders, and to participate in God’s sovereign purposes that extended far beyond his lifetime or understanding.
The instruction to anoint Hazael as king over Syria reminds us that God is at work in ways that cross borders, kingdoms, and expectations. Even in foreign lands, even through leaders who did not know Him, God was orchestrating His justice and mercy. Elijah’s mission was part of a greater tapestry—a plan that God was weaving through history.
Even in the Old Testament, God was at work creating the paths for the greater work of the Kingdom. His dealings with kings and nations, as well as His raising up and tearing down of rulers, were never random or isolated events—they were all threads in the unfolding story of redemption.
His plan works to bring forth the salvation that would ultimately come through Yeshua (Jesus), redeeming people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. Elijah’s task, though it seemed small or even puzzling at the time, was part of preparing the world for God’s greater purposes. So let us lift our eyes beyond our immediate circumstances. Grab hold of the grand plan and understand the grand framework of His workings. Trust that your obedience, like Elijah’s, fits into a design that is far bigger than you can imagine — a design that leads to His glory and the redemption of the world.
However, we can sometimes feel, like Elijah, defeated or isolated. We may think our role is finished or our strength is gone. But God says: Return. Get up. Keep going. I still have a purpose for you. His plans stretch beyond our sight, and our obedience — no matter how weary we feel — places us back in the flow of His divine will.
Is there a place where God is calling you to return — to reengage with His purpose despite discouragement, weariness, or fear? Like Elijah, you may feel alone or that your work has no lasting impact. But the same God who spoke through the still small voice calls you now: Go, return. His plan is far greater than your understanding, weaving your obedience into the tapestry of His Kingdom purposes. What you do today may set in motion blessings and victories that you will never fully see on this side of eternity. So trust Him, step forward, and embrace your part in His unfolding story of redemption!
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]As we continue this study of the Dead Sea scrolls, authorities announced the discovery of several more scrolls as their extensive search for more hidden caves and treasures continues. Given the “coincidence” of the events described in previous devotionals, God’s providential involvement in these developments becomes clear. His Word tells us what is about to happen, and new discoveries of Biblical texts seem to be directly related to modern prophetic fulfillments.
As we continue this study of the Dead Sea Scrolls we jump to 1963 and the unearthing of Masada.
Flavius Josephus the Jewish historian recorded the tragic events at Masada in “The Jewish Wars.” Masada was ignored for years as it reminded the Rabbis of the failures of the many false messiahs that appeared after Yeshua (Jesus).
As we continue into the historical and prophetic significance of the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls, I take you back to 1948. Professor Eleazar Sukenik discovered that Mar Athanasius Yeshue Samuel, the Syrian Orthodox Archbishop of Jerusalem purchased several of the Dead Sea scrolls. So Professor Sukenik visited the archbishop and took several photos of the scrolls which were then sent to William Albright, a Biblical archaeologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
As we’ve been travelling around the U.S., we’ve been trying to take extra care of ourselves, taking vitamins and disinfecting our hands regularly as not to get sick.
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A century ago, Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, was a thriving center of Christianity, earning the nickname “Jerusalem of the East.” The early 1900s saw rapid Christian growth, especially after the 1907 Pyongyang Revival, sparked by a meeting between Western missionaries and local believers. At its peak, about 30% of the population were practicing Christians, and the city was filled with thousands of churches.
With the war breaking out in Ukraine there is a lot of speculation that we are in the end of days with the apocalypse on the horizon. Everyone who knows me knows I’m not a gloom and doomer, that I do acknowledge the days we are living in, but remain expectant and focused on the birth of the Kingdom.