Scripture:
I Kings 19:11-13 NKJV
[11] Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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; [12] and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a still small voice. [13] So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Observation:
Elijah was a profit of GOD who had a burden on his heart for GOD’S chosen people. He saw how they had been doing things and knew that it was not right. He desired to teach them the LORD’S way but needed to hear from GOD on just exactly how to do that. I’m sure by this point he had prayed and sought HIS face and was eagerly awaiting instructions from YAHWAH HIMSELF. Then it came… the first bit he needed. “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” This little bit of information was the beginning of Elijah’s training process. My guess is he was standing in the mouth of a cave asking GOD to speak to him, and this was GOD’S way of saying that if you want to hear from me, you must get into my presence. So Elijah did he stood on the mountain and started to listen. As he did, the LORD promised to pass by. First HE sent a strong wind. I could almost see Elijah’s tunic wrapped tightly around his body as the wind made him set his feet so that he could stand firm. Turning his ear to be attentive to the voice I f GOD yet not hearing it. Rocks and distractions falling all around him, yet nothing. Next, as he stood there waiting, the earth started to shake. Maybe his feet got a little unsure, and he had to set his feet again and stand, grabbing onto something so he didn’t fall. However, there was still no voice from the LORD. With all the distractions going on around him and his feet set firmly on the rocks there on the side of the mountain, next came a fire. Now I have to say that most of the time, when fire is mentioned in the bible, it has to do with purification. I would imagine that…and through scripture, we find out that Elijah was a man just like you and me. He may have had some stuff that kept him from hearing the LORD, and the fire was sent to burn up that stuff and create in him a trust for what GOD wanted to do in and through him. Yet GOD’S voice was not in the flames of the fire it came afterward. That’s when he heard GOD at the mouth of the cave after all the distractions. The LORD spoke to him. Elijah covered his face and stood at the entrance of the cave to have a conversation with YAHWAH. As GOD asked him suddenly, what are you doing here, Elijah? He got the opportunity to share the burden that was on his heart for GOD’S chosen people. How they had fallen into the worship of idols and torn down anything that had represented YAHWAH.
Application:
At different times in my life, I have wanted to hear clear directions from GOD, but I haven’t always been the best at hearing or taking the time to listen. I would always get to a point and think I know what HE wants and start running in the wrong way. After several years and lots of distractions… windstorms earthquakes and fires. I discovered that I had to train my ear to hear GOD, and if I was going to do that, I had to find out the words HE would speak to me. So I sat in my cave with HIS book and dug into HIS voice. Reading the bible helps me emanate all the distractions that go on in the world so I can focus on what HE is saying to me. Life has a lot of shiny distractions that can shake the foundation of what we are standing on. As long as we set our feet on the rock, GOD will give us direction. All we have to do is be still and know that HE will never leave us or forget about us. Sometimes, being still is the action HE wants us to take. I want to be used by GOD. I want HIM to send me, and I believe as long as I wait for HIM to say move, I will not be wrong. HIS word is HIS voice. If you want to know what HE wants you to do, you have to train your ear by reading HIS word. Those are the words of HIS voice. The more you know it, the more HE will speak to you. It’s something you have to consume daily. If you want to see HIS face. You have to look where the picture of it is painted. The LORD is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. That’s the LORD GOD Almighty…the whole earth is filled with HIS glory. What HE said in HIS word is the same today, tomorrow, and forever. HE has already spoken to you. You just need to train your ear to hear it among all the distractions of the world. We have to take time to read HIS voice so HE can speak to us.
Prayer:
Father, our hearts are yours. We are tired of running the wrong way for miles only to find out that we need to turn around and head back because we did not wait to hear what you wanted from us. We want to hear your voice. We want to know what you are saying directly to us. We know that the world wants us to react to distractions. But that’s not what we want. Our desire is to set our feet on the rock that is your son Jesus. Help us to be still when needed so that we can hear you say go when the marching orders are given. Our heart desires are to be used by you. Help us understand what you want from us. Give us a strong desire to read your voice. Fill us with your Holy Spirit. So we have the boldness to move and say what you would have us say. We love you with all our hearts. Fill us today with who you are so that our every action is a reflection of YOU. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.