A Low Whisper

In the message on Sunday we learned that Elijah had pretty much given up and asked God to take his life.  He was done!  I know that many of us have been there as various points in life.  But fortunately, God reaches out to us.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.  1 Kings 19:5-6 NIV

At the lowest point of Elijah’s life, God goes to him and cares for him, not in a general way, but in a very specific way.  God doesn’t address Elijah’s doubts, failures and fears, he lovingly meets his needs by simply showing him that he is still there.   

This is a beautiful picture of God’s unchanging nature.  The Almighty God of the Universe, maker of heaven and earth, consistently and lovingly offers himself to us in our greatest times of need.  Unlike humans, He does not harbor bitterness when we offend Him, He still loves us and comes to us.  1 John 4:9-10 shows how He also did this through Jesus.  

9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  1 John 4:9-10 NIV

I wish the story ended with Elijah getting some food, taking a nap and getting back to the work of God.  But God went to him again and said get up and eat.  After this he went on a 40 day journey to Mt. Horeb found a cave and went back to feeling sorry for himself.  God then said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  Upon hearing the voice of God, strangely he didn’t get up and get to work, he started with a sob story.  God, I have done so much for you, but I’m so alone, no one likes you either God, there is no one left but me and everybody wants to kill me.  So God said to him;

“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. 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 the sound of a low whisper.  1 Kings 19:11-12  ESV

Now on a different mountain, God reveals himself and his glory in a whole different way. God was not in the wind, He was not in the earthquake, and He was not in the fire.  While the point on Mt. Carmel was to show himself in spectacular ways, He is now choosing to show himself in a low whisper.    

Do you ever find yourself desiring to find God in the miraculous ways to the point that you may often miss him in the little things?  

Elijah did at least one thing right here even if he was acting out of cowardice?  He removed himself from the chaos.  

Are you intentional about removing yourself from the aspects of life that may drown out the voice of God speaking to your heart?

What kind of practical things can you do to begin to quiet your life so that you can hear the voice of God? 

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