Do you hear His whisper?

Recently my son, Branden had the opportunity to go on a mission’s trip to Florida. The trip in itself was amazing and fruitful. God was at work in incredible ways. However, before and after, Bran experienced some real spiritual battles. In talking, we were reminded how Satan doesn’t like spiritual victories. He wants to bring us down in any way he can. Have you ever experienced that? I think Elijah felt this way. He had experienced such great victory. He did all God had called him to do, but now he couldn’t see God. He could only see that victory now looked like defeat.

Here is part of Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 19:9-13. “There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about 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 there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Elijah had just experienced spiritual victory at Carmel with God bringing down fire from heaven to consume a water-drenched sacrifice. The flames even licked up all the water. The prophets of Baal were shown to be frauds, and you would think all of this would cause King Ahab to lead Israel back to seeking God. Instead of this taking place, Israel continued their walk away from God, and Elijah fell into a spiritual depression. Angels ministered to his physical needs, and after physical strength returned, he found himself in a cave. It was there that God ministered to him spiritually. God met him at the cave asking Elijah why he was there. Elijah’s explanation described by E.B. Meyer in his book Elijah says, “He did not try to explain how he came there, or what he was doing. He chose rather to dwell upon his own loyalty for the cause of God; and to bring it out into striking relief by contrasting it with the sinful backslidings of his people.” Elijah focused on what he had done for God, rather than the work God was using him for.

God commanded him to come out of the cave to see Him pass by, but Elijah did not go. God showed His power through the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but He was not in it. When He spoke in a still small voice, Elijah listened and stood at the mouth of the cave. The soft loving voice of God beckoned Elijah to examine his own heart for the pride lurking there. In his book Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament, Warren W. Wiersbe further explains, “Elijah wanted something accomplished that was loud and big, but sometimes God prefers that which is still and small. It is not for us to dictate to God what methods He should use. It is our duty only to trust and obey.”

God does not always use big powerful events to reach His people. Sometimes a still small voice is all that is needed to touch the heart and cause a turn from sin. His purposes are best accomplished with the methods He chooses to accomplish them. Will you listen for His voice? Will you trust His ways? Some of the greatest victories come when we listen to His gentle whisper.

In His Love,

Susan