As I was going through some old writings of mine I found notes about the passage in 1 Kings 19:11-13:
Our Pastor shared with us.
[“Go out and stand before me on the mountain” the Lord told him. “And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there as an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle and quiet whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”]
This passage gave me much to think about.
It is a logical question when Elijah was supposed to be with the people. Only he was fearing his life and didn’t want them to harm him so he decided to hide.
God knows our hearts and sometimes he has to ask us the hard questions, even when he already knows the answers.
If you read the passage Elijah tried to explain to him what the people were doing and how it frustrated him. In order for God to have Elijah ‘get the point’ he had to show power and gentleness in the same lesson.
The thought I had tossing in my mind like a dryer full of warm clothes, God addressed him in a whisper. In order to hear a whisper we must lean in and focus.
God whispered… whispered in a soft quiet voice. It is that spoken word, we read about in Genesis when he SPOKE life into existence.
We have all heard about the horse whisperer book, and maybe even watched the movie. Then there was a baby whisperer book, dog whisperer book and perhaps more that I don’t even know about. But the thought I am trying to share is this. In order for someone to hear a whisper, one has to slow down and quiet their heart.
The purpose of those books is to teach the reader how to calm down and quiet a scared and unruly behavior.
In a very quiet way, teaching gently in order for trust to take place.
I would love to challenge us today to ask how often we slow down long enough to hear a ‘small soft whisper?’ Do we unplug ourselves from the phone chatter or other daytime noises to really listen? We make time for other voices but do we make time for the gentle voice of God?
This passage tells me how much God will do to get our attention. The powerful then the peace. Both are effective only one is more intimate.
To be relational from the standpoint of silence. It is calming. It is ministering to the inside spirit of us.
When you think of a whisper it is intimate. Private. For just a few.
One day my grand daughter came into the den where I was doing some writing. She said “grandma I have a secret, let me tell you.” As she came closer to me to whisper it in my ear, I realized it was for her and I only.” She told me and then she giggled. Knowing that her secret was safe and heard and I wouldn’t share it.
Isn’t that kind of like what God is doing? In order for us to hear him we must stop what we are doing, lean in and listen.
It’s a holy hush moment.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Be still, know my power. Pay attention I have something important to ask or share with you.
God showed Elijah power before he showed him peace.
The calming effect of a whisper is a gift given to us. I challenge you today to grab a piece of paper, brew a cup of tea and quiet your heart, so you can begin to hear the whisper he is sharing with you. Be quiet, settle in, listen with your spirit as He says to you: “Be still and know that I am God.”