ELIZA J. BURNHAM by Eliza J. Burnham

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 3, 1873

ELIZA J. BURNHAM

By Eliza J. Burnham

Obedience.

On Horeb, the grand and gloomy mount of God, the prophet Elijah found a hiding-place from the wrath of Israel’s wicked queen. His past life and his present circumstances harmonized well with the wild and solemn beauty of the scene around him. He had been faithful to God as few are faithful, and, during his eventful, worldly life and by its triumphant close, he was highly honored of God. Now, he who had been the chosen champion of true religion, while the whole land of Israel seemed given up to idolatry, was called to “stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle,” for he knew that God spake.

That still small voice, who shall describe it? or the nature of the message it bore? “Go,” was the command, “return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus.” Not yet could the weary prophet lay his burdens down. By-and-by “the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof” should convey him to the gates of the golden city. By-and-by he should enjoy an eternity of rest on the banks of the beautiful river. But first there was work to do for the Master. He must honor God a little longer here upon earth. And how sweetly reproof was blended with encouragement. Sad, almost murmuring, Elijah, know thou art not alone in thy worship of the true God. “I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”

“And so he departed thence,” says the sacred record. No hesitancy—no doubts—no lingering delay—God had spoken, and his servant obeyed. He knew that the wicked, cruel Jezebel, sought his life; but he could go on his way trusting in the mighty God of Israel. In a season of sore trial, David said: “I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.” Such faith had Elijah.

God speaks to us whose lot it is to live in the last days. He speaks to us by the Bible and the testimonies. He has given us conscience, too, to be the umpire of our daily acts. If this eye of the soul is enlightened by the truth, if it is kept ever clear and bright, undimmed by the mists of passion and sense, by worldly wisdom and the love of gain, it will be a safe guide, and we shall do well to heed its warnings. God demands zeal and earnestness of us, and we cannot plead ignorance as an excuse for the neglect of duty. If we fail of gaining eternal life, we shall merit the punishment of that servant who knew his lord’s will, yet did it not.

Elijah set us an example. God said, “Go,” and the prophet went forward. He did not wait to see just how God would deliver him from the hand of his enemies. He knew that God would sustain him while he walked in the path of duty; and he leaned on that mighty arm. “The arm of the Lord is not shortened that he cannot save,” therefore we should imitate the ready obedience and child-like trust of Elijah. “If thine eye be single,” says Christ, “thy whole body shall be full of light.” Then let us have an eye single to the glory of God. Those who hope to escape death as Elijah escaped it—those who have the last message of mercy—should be faithful and self-denying in the cause of their Master. “So an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”