So a few weeks ago we studied a chapter of 1 Kings in youth group. Chapter 19: 1-14, the story about Elijah and how he ran away from Jezebel, the woman who wanted to have him killed, into the wilderness where he pleaded with God to take his life... I guess he would rather die by God's hand than by Jezebel's. But then God's angel comes to him and God provides food and water for Elijah to use. This happens 2 times, then God simply asks the question, "What are you doing here Elijah?" Elijah's response: "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." God then tells Elijah to stand on a mountain before the Lord. He then sends a series of events that are meant to show Elijah the power of God and how He works: A great strong wind broke the rocks around him, an earthquake shook the ground that he was standing on, probably causing him to fear that it would break beneath him, a fire tore across the wilderness, ravaging all that was in it's path. Yet the Lord was not in any of those things. Though He controls each and every one of those power rending events, the Lord God chose to present Himself to Elijah in something entirely different. A still, small voice. A gentle blowing, like the spring wind in the trees. This was to show Elijah God's power. This was to let him know that God can and would control everything in life, and nothing would happen outside of his will. God would raise up those in Israel who were to help Elijah, who were zealous for God, just as he was. He needn't have feared for his life and his loneliness, for God had already heard his cries and longed to bring him out of the self-centered thoughts at that moment. Perhaps it is quiet and unknown at times, but once we learn to listen for the still, small voice...that is the greatest place to be.
I guess what really brought these thoughts on is something that I wrote down last night during my bible study. It's from Francis Chan's book Crazy Love. Here's what I found:
"Stop thinking and talking when you are in the presence of God. Instead, listen to what He is telling you through the quiet whispers or the words on every page you are reading. God is not someone we can bark our needs to. He knows them already and has a plan for each and every one. Needs may not be met in the way we think they should at the time, but if we let God talk to us in the way He truly desires to, we will find that the circumstance of our needs is no longer important. Instead, we will be in awe of what He has done an said."
That is something that I truly need to work on. I know that I'm not listening as much as I should, and I pray that as I listen to Him in my life, I will get the joy of hearing that still, small voice...
