Elijah was on the run from evil leaders that hated anything to do with God or His people. He found a cave to rest in and the Lord spoke to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty, but the people of Israel have broken their covenant with You, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
“The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand before Me on the mountain, for the presence of the Lord is going to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, came an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
God told Elijah in a small, soft voice to “Go back to where you came… anoint kings to Aram and Israel…and anoint Elisha to succeed you as prophet. And (you are not alone) I have 7,000 people in Israel who have not bowed the knee to Baal or kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:9-18)
Friends, notice that the Lord manifested His strength to Elisha through the earthquake, the wind and fire, not to scare him, but to show him His power. It’s so comforting to know that the One who holds our lives in His hands, tucks us safely away (like Elijah in the cave), but into the niche in The Rock (Jesus), and has us behold His glory and power, unscathed.
Don’t we feel the world roaring lately? The winds of change are ripping through our countries. Notice that He won’t compete with the screaming voices of our day? He whispers, tenderly, softly, peacefully. Oh, how we need to hear from Him! May we shut ourselves away, every day, in a quiet place, where we can feast on His words of Life...
No other words matter like His…
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