Elijah Poem by Gert Strydom

There had been a man of God, a prophet,
that measured out God's will on the earth,
that for years did stop the rain from falling
when man did forget the omnipotent Lord God.

On mount Carmel he laughed at the prophets of Baal
that in vain was waiting upon their god,
water was poured out over the altar of God
and in front of the Israel Elijah prayed on that day

where fire came out of heaven,
did astonish king Ahab and the whole of Israel,
did the devour the offer of God before everyone
and then Elijah killed the prophets of Baal,

prayed for rain to come from the sea
where after he gave instructions to the king
to ride away before the rain could corner him,
did run out before the horses

but when Isabel did threaten him with death
(that queen who tended towards Asherah) ,
the man of God wanted to die under a broom-bush
where in the desert he was tired and thirsty,

where Elijah was scared to face the vengeance of Isabel
but God did send water and griddlecake with an angel
did tell Elijah to go to Horeb, the mountain of God,
to stand before God on that mountain.

A terrible gust of wind did crush rocks to gravel
but God was not in that wind.
Then an earthquake came and a devouring fire
and I Elijah could not find God in them

but God was in the soft whispering.

© Gert Strydom