And he said, Go forth, and 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. {1 Kings 19:11-12}
Just when you think, that all hope is faded and gone, all dreams are pointless, all that you've worked for, is of little value, or that you are a complete nobody, a still small voice whispers: My Child I love you and I will never forsake you. In the above verses, God to have a word with Elijah. He first allowed some powerful and noisy demonstrations; that could have easily been mistook or take for His voice. Then, a strong wind –- The wind was so strong in fact, that it tore the mountain apart before Elijah's very eyes. Rocks went everywhere. After that, an earthquake followed, and if that wasn't enough, a fire. I would say by the time these very big events had passed, Elijah might have been a little distracted. But the Lord wasn't in any of them. Then, God spoke to Elijah, in a still ( tranquil , serene) small, {Tiny} voice.
Just when you think, that all hope is faded and gone, all dreams are pointless, all that you've worked for, is of little value, or that you are a complete nobody, a still small voice whispers: My Child I love you and I will never forsake you. In the above verses, God to have a word with Elijah. He first allowed some powerful and noisy demonstrations; that could have easily been mistook or take for His voice. Then, a strong wind –- The wind was so strong in fact, that it tore the mountain apart before Elijah's very eyes. Rocks went everywhere. After that, an earthquake followed, and if that wasn't enough, a fire. I would say by the time these very big events had passed, Elijah might have been a little distracted. But the Lord wasn't in any of them. Then, God spoke to Elijah, in a still ( tranquil , serene) small, {Tiny} voice.
If your home is anything like mine use to be or like most homes are today, sometimes it's extremely loud! There are Kids playing and hollering, the dogs barking, the television is on, and who knows what else, and then the telephone rings. Suddenly it becomes very important to you to close your hearing to everything else, around you, so you can hear the person who is calling you. It is the same way, with the Lord, we need to close our ears and to shut everything else out, in order to open our ears to hear Him.!
In the above verses, God had something to say to Elijah. He first allowed some powerful and noisy manifestations to take place; those things might have easily been mistaken for His voice. We do serve a powerful God. A strong wind –- so strong in fact, that it tore the mountain apart right before Elijah's very eyes. After that, an earthquake followed, and if that wasn't enough, a fire! I would say by the time these massive events had passed, Elijah might have been a little distracted, But the Lord wasn't in any of them. While the Lord was the cause of all those things it was not the manner in which He would speak to the prophet. Many modern churches, in today’s world, have also, traded in that still small voice for “the fire”, “wind”, “earthquakes and any other thing that fancies them. Then, God spoke to Elijah.... in a still, small, voice. Just as The Lord spoke to Elijah in a still small voice, God does the same with us today. We need to listen for the sound of that gentle whisper that can only come from God. Elijah knew that this still small voice was from God. He realized that God does not always reveal Himself in powerful ways. For us to look for God in big and powerful things may mean that we will miss Him.
In the above verses, God had something to say to Elijah. He first allowed some powerful and noisy manifestations to take place; those things might have easily been mistaken for His voice. We do serve a powerful God. A strong wind –- so strong in fact, that it tore the mountain apart right before Elijah's very eyes. After that, an earthquake followed, and if that wasn't enough, a fire! I would say by the time these massive events had passed, Elijah might have been a little distracted, But the Lord wasn't in any of them. While the Lord was the cause of all those things it was not the manner in which He would speak to the prophet. Many modern churches, in today’s world, have also, traded in that still small voice for “the fire”, “wind”, “earthquakes and any other thing that fancies them. Then, God spoke to Elijah.... in a still, small, voice. Just as The Lord spoke to Elijah in a still small voice, God does the same with us today. We need to listen for the sound of that gentle whisper that can only come from God. Elijah knew that this still small voice was from God. He realized that God does not always reveal Himself in powerful ways. For us to look for God in big and powerful things may mean that we will miss Him.
We must realize and always believe that God still speaks in that same still small voice today. But are we able to hear that still, small voice with all the madness and idiocy around us these days? It is so essential to turn off and tune out the noise, that is around us, so we can wait for the Lord’s Voice! We must take a step backwards from all the noise and activity of our life and listen for that voice. This can also be a lesson to people who believe that overexcited and loud worship is power from God and sometimes it is, but here we see it was the still small voice of our God.
When God has our complete attention, not only can we come to know Him better, but we can receive that direction we've been longing and waiting for and it may come in that still small voice as He whispers your name.
The same God that cared for Elijah cares for you and me also. I thank the Lord, at this point in my life, that through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. I am enjoying peace and safety that only comes from God. But I am, also, reminded of other times past when I have known the feeling of despair due to bad health, death and other trials in my life, because they have been brutal and very hurtful to me to me. I am so not foolish enough as to think that I will never have to face any kind of crisis again. Life is filled with ups and downs, good and bad – for believers and non-believers alike. This Bible narrative reminds me to keep the faith: in thought and in action not matter what happens. It reassures me and restores my confidence and belief that God will be faithful to me, even when I have given up hope, when I feel like I am alone, when I can't find the strength to go on.
Each of us will face trials, perhaps some so great we will not have the will to carry on. There are times we may feel abandoned and forgotten. We may feel that the obstacles ahead of us are too massive to overcome. Maybe we will seem unimportant and our problems of no consequence in the face of the events going on around us. But we need the assurance that God will never leave us or forsake us. In {JOHN 14:16 -18} Jesus Christ gives us a promise to hold on to, that we shall not be left comfortless.
In the midst of our personal and our countries greatest struggles, Let us all pray that The Lord’s still, small voice will find each one of our hearts and the heart of this great nation to help us bear whatever we must; and that, like Elijah, we will know the love of God in our darkest hours.
Bill Patchett
January 18, 2010
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