On a recent trip to Israel I was led to go see Zedekiah’s Cave upon descending into the Cave. The deeper I went into its recesses the more aware I was of being alone. Many of us have had “alone” moments whether by choice or by hurt and rejection by the hand of others. The tendency during these times is to run away from either our problems, the ones that have hurt us or both at the same time. In a manner of speaking to “get away from it all”. The trouble with this kind of attitude is that the deeper we descend into our caves, the longer it takes to walk out.
Unfortunately, many get lost while in there and wander around aimlessly and without purpose for years. G-d has not created us to “hide” in caves but to STAND on the MOUNTAINS in the Light of His Glorious Truth. I am reminded of an experience that the Prophet Elijah went through after he had all the false prophets that served the wicked Jezebel. Upon hearing that she was out to get his head, being filled with despair, he ran away and into a “cave” which really means “a pit”.
While he was in there he heard the Voice of the L-rd saying in no short terms “What in the world are you doing in here?” GO STAND upon the MOUNT. In other words GET out of your PITY party and LOOK at what I have done on your behalf. I believe one of the lessons we can take from this is every time we turn our focus “inward” instead of “upward” we distance ourselves from the reality of how much G-d works on our behalf intervening in the affairs of men. In order to assure our hearts that He indeed is in control of our lives no matter what men have purposed to do to us. There is not much you can see in a “cave” other than yourself at best.
The prophet needed a little TUNE adjustment so that his ears once again could become sensitive to the STILL small Voice of G-d that can penetrate any amount of “darkness”, descend into the deepest recesses of our emotions and lead us back into the Light. We as His servants will often times like Elijah question our Maker as to why some bad things befall us especially when doing His Will. Yet if we can turn our focus off ourselves and with the Eyes of Emuna (faith) look beyond the circumstances we will see that its allowances are not meant to punish us for some misgivings that we may have inadvertently committed but rather a pathway to draw us closer to G-d. May you hear the voice of G-d clearer than you have ever heard before and KNOW that He is ALWAYS for you.
Rabbi Matt