SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 19
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
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. [1 Kings 19:11-12] Elijah has just seen fire from heaven. But now he is afraid of Jezebel. It seems the great revelation of fire on Mt Carmel is not enough to convince him. In despair he wants to die. God promises to “pass by” to encourage him, but interestingly, God does so in a strange way.
God is not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire. But then comes the gentle whisper. God is present in the gentle whisper! This is not a question of God’s power, but His personal presence. He is not impressing Elijah, He is reassuring Him. Like a close friend, or a loving parent, or a personal comforter, He gently reminds Him that He is God, that He is good, that He is near. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. [John 14:26]
God can manipulate and direct wind, earthquakes and fire – makes us think after what happened this week in Haiti – but He is not in them. These are not how He relates to us. He relates to us spiritually, through the Spirit, gently whispering to our spirits that we are loved, secure, that we belong to Him. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. [Romans 8:16]
I am convinced that God is not in the (Haiti) earthquake – He is not relating to us this way. We live in a twisted, sin-scarred and dysfunctional world. The creation is groaning, subject to decay, disaster and death. God doesn’t come to us through these things. Yes, He does control them, He does not let sin, death or hell have the final say. But He directs them for His good purpose. The earthquake is evil, Satan’s scheme and sin’s curse and our consequence; but through it all, the Lord does pass by, He still whispers with His gentle voice. He reminds us that no matter how bad things look, He is still in charge, and He is working to remove the curse, repair the damage and restore the creation. In the midst of this tragedy, or wherever you find yourself in life, listen for His gentle whisper, His Spirit whispering His love, His encouragement. Heed the voice of His counselor (and not Satan’s lies).
PRAYER:
Lord, tune my heart to hear Your voice through the cacophony of evil!
How incredible that we can see God working supernaturally as Elijah did and then almost succumb to Satan’s attack and want to end it all. Lord I have seen your glory and yet I too am so vulnerable to the enemy’s schemes as he tries to immobilize me. Open my ears so I can hear your whisper in the darkness. May the people of Haiti also experience the truth of who You are and that indeed the quake is not of God but Satan exposing his destructive plans all for us in this world. But greater is He who is in me than he who is in this world! Amen !!