Scripture:
1 Kings 19:9-14 ESV
[9] There, he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” [10] He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” [11] And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. [12] After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, the sound of a low whisper. [13] And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” [14] He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
Observation:
When Elijah came to the cave, he was more than likely tired. His journey up to this point had been long, and it was time to get some rest. However, GOD wanted to have a conversation with him… so before Elijah had a chance to go to sleep, the LORD asked him what his plans were there at the cave. Elijah explained how he had been doing everything in his power to teach and preserve the ways of the LORD… but GOD’S very own people had not only forgotten about HIM, but they had been chasing after other gods taring down the altars of the LORD going against HIS ways and killing all HIS prophets Elijah found his way to the cave in fear for his life. Searching for an encounter with GOD. Yet he was trying to hide at the same time. So when the word of the LORD came to him, he was ready to hear it. But he had something to say as well. As Elijah explained what he was doing, GOD gave him some instructions go and he stood at the mouth of the cave. It was time for a training exercise. In a mighty display of strength, the LORD pasted by with a strong wind. But HE didn’t say anything to Elijah. The display was so powerful that the pieces of the mountain fell apart. Yet GID was silent… next, the LORD shook the whole earth right under the feet of Elijah. But HIS voice was still not heard. Two very powerful displays of HIS power but not a word were spoken yet. The next display was in a fire. Yet again, not one word from the LORD… until a soft subtle wind blew and the still small whisper of the LORD was heard, and Elijah knew immediately that GOD had spoken to him. He wrapped his face in his cloak and stood at the entrance of the cave where the LORD asked the very same question HE had asked at the beginning of this whole situation. What are you doing, Elijah? Elijah answered in the very same way he did at first… I’m in fear they are trying to kill me because I am speaking for you. After all the displays of power, Elijah’s fear did not go away. However, his ear was tuned and ready to hear GOD speak to him.
Application:
I remember the first time I heard GOD speak. HE had done it many times before… but it was through actions. I am sitting in a jail cell all alone and feeling sorry for myself. I lifted up a pitiful me prayer asking GOD to show me I wasn’t alone, and HE did. HIS breath blew 2 letters under my door. But nothing changed in my life… yet. A few years later, as my life was crumbling to pieces as the foundation shook, I was still not listening to HIS voice. Then, after the purifying fire that HE sent my ear, I was fully tuned to hear what HE had to say. All the distractions had to be removed. All the broken relationships and horrible situations I had gotten myself into all of it had to go. It was competing for my ear. It has to be tuned to hear HIS voice. It’s a still small whisper. So let me explain here what I’m saying. If you want to hear from GOD, you have to get into a quiet place. With no distractions. If you are looking for the loud pop and the bright light. That can happen, but it’s generally right after you pull your head out of your backside. GOD’S voice is not a loud thunderstorm. It’s a small draw towards HIM…it’s very subtle. Can HE smack you upside your head… yes, HE can, but HE only tends to do that when you’re not listening at all… and the purpose for that kind of statement is so that you will turn your attention to what HE is really saying. How do we hear what HE is really saying you may ask… well, I have the answer, time with HIM, time training your ear. In other words… time is in HIS word. GOD wants to have a conversation with you. But HE can only speak to you if you spend time with HIM. You have to give HIM words to say. One thing I noticed is that the more time I spent reading the bible, the more GOD had to say to me. So I have a question for you… have you ever been struggling with a discussion on whether or not to do something and bam? ….just like that, a scripture will come to your mind that answers all the questions you had about that particular situation. I’m telling you, that’s GOD’S voice HE has spoken. Listen and move on what has been said. My point to all this is that the world will distract you because it’s loud…it has to be.. the fact is the world doesn’t want you to hear what the LORD wants to say. Take the time to train your ear so that you will be able to discern what the good, perfect pleasing will of GOD is.
Prayer:
Father, I know I have had to be smacked in order to hear you. But I believe now my ears are better tuned for your voice. We never want to be so distracted by the world, and all its screaming that we can’t honestly hear what you are saying. We read over and over that if we stay focused on you. That you will show us the calm inside the storm. Help us to clearly hear your voice so that our feet will be firmly planted on the foundation that is your son Jesus Christ. We never want to lose sight of that. We know that your word is the dividing line, not how we feel about it. But what it actually says. Please allow us to hear you and not the opinions of others. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.