I was reading in 1 Kings 19 the other day and was reminded of something I often forget and have never associated with this passage before.
In verses 11-12 God tells Elijah (a prophet) to go up to the mountain and says, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
The next part of the verse says, “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.”
It would have made sense for God to show up in this powerful windstorm. What a perfect way to display His grandeur and strength! But He didn’t. Why?
Then there’s the earthquake and things start making a little sense. Of course He didn’t come in the wind. There was an even greater entrance to be had. But…no. He wasn’t in the earthquake either.
The Whisper
The beginning of verse 12 says, “After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.”
What is going on?
Poor Elijah up there dealing with all those fierce storms and where is God? Why hasn’t He passed through the mountain yet? Didn’t God say He would come?
Let’s look at the end of verse 12 and all of verse 13…
“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.”
The Mysterious Ways of God
There was a wind so strong it literally tore at the mountain and shattered rocks.
There was an earthquake that trembled through the ground.
There was a fire that blazed in fury.
Yet God chose to appear in a whisper?
Those words echoed in my head all morning and let me tell you—Algebra I is really hard when you’re trying to understand the ways of God.
A whisper.
Why a whisper?
Characteristics of God
When I think of God, I think of the time He made the seas stand so the Israelites could walk on dry ground. I think of the way He walked Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego through the flames of death so that they were not even singed. I think of the moment He brought up an army of bones in the book of Ezekiel.
That is the God I think of.
Because my God is big and powerful; undefeatable, uncontainable, unstoppable; Creator, Friend, Savior, King.
That is my God.
But the more I think about it, the more I realize…
My God is a serene God.
He is a mysterious Being that brings comfort and is the literal essence of peace. My God is like still waters and soft skies. Motionlessly breathless.
Sometimes He comes to us…in a whisper.
Seeking the Right Things
How often do I ask God for help in a certain situation and instead of waiting on Him, I expect Him to appear before my very eyes in some miraculous way?
How often do I pray for fire when I need to pray for whispers?
How often do I let the storms distract me from the One who holds all the answers?
I have chased down countless winds, waited upon endless earthquakes, and listened to raging fires.
How many of those times did I miss the whisper?
I get so caught up in my expectations of who God is and what He will do that I forget to seek Him.
Knowing the Voice of God
You know my favorite thing in this passage?
Elijah knew.
The minute he heard the whisper he went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
He knew the voice of his God.
This week I’m challenging myself to recognize God’s voice and tune out the storms.
Because sometimes He comes in powerful glory but sometimes…He comes in a whisper.
Rue
That was beautiful!! Listening to the voice of God through the storms. He is there. He may show up in a big way, I’ve seen it happen in my own life, but sometimes, it’s in a whisper.
A great book that I want to read is called: Discerning the voice of God by Priscilla Shirer. It’s about listening and hearing the voice of God. My mom read this book and said it was amazing!! I’m going to read it now and suggest you should too!❤️
Thank you Breanna! Yes, I agree. That is a wonderful takeaway from this post!
I will look into that book; thank you for the suggestion!
You’re very welcome! Hope you like it!
WOWWWW!!! Rue!!! This is sooo eyeopening!! WOW, just wow…im speechless at the truth of this message. Yes our God is all-powerful and nothing is impossible for Him, and yet sometimes He shows His majesty through the simplest, most peaceful moments of quietness–through His loving whispers. This truly came at the perfect time in my life and I just wanna thank you for spreading messages of hope and light and bringing me closer to God and His word. 🙂
Your message reminds me of a song from Jeremy Camp called “When You Speak”, theres a lyric that says “I find it’s always the lie that is loudest
I know the One with the power
Is never the one who is shoutin’, shoutin’
I lean in, I know that I need to listen
Through all of the thunder, You whisper
Even in doubt, You are with me, with me”
I’m so glad this post was able to impact you! I couldn’t agree more. Thank you for sharing your feedback and perspective! I need to go listen to that song now. 🙂
Beautifully said, my daughter!
Thanks, Mom ❤
Hallelujah… Our Lord is so beautiful. As is this post, truly. Thank you for sharing, Rue!
Agreed. Thank you, Josie!
Ah, yes, Psalm 46:10 companion. In this moment of daily details, you brought me back home to His heart, to lean in and listen for the “whisper.”
Always. 🤍 Glad it was a reminder to you!
It’s definitely hard sometimes to tune out things that are going on in life. Sometimes it feels like you’re all alone and there’s no one that understands what’s going on, but I forget I always have God to talk to. Plus he already knows everything that we are going through so he understands already.
That’s very true. Life can get pretty lonesome sometimes because everyone is dealing with something in their own personal life. But you are right, God is always there to listen to us and walk us through the good AND bad. 🙂
Thanks so much, my awesome fellow MK!! I loved it, it really is a great lesson and it’s such an awesome thing I never get tired of reading that passage. Haha. Once again, thank you so much!
Thank you Anna! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.🤍
This is truly beautiful, Rue! Amazing job writing this out.
Thank you so much for this <3
Thank you Agnès!
This is so good, Rue! I came across this verse a few months ago during my devotions and I was struck with the same amazement. It’s a beautiful passage and there’s a lot to chew on there. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I enjoyed reading this!
Thank you Jehosheba! How cool that we were reading it around the same time. 🙂 Agreed! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
I don’t think I’ve thought about that insight in that passage before. Thanks! I liked the reference to Algebra :D. I sympathize completely.
I hadn’t either before I read it this last time! Yup…Algebra isn’t my favorite subject either 😉