God Speaks, 20

 

~ God Spoke to Elijah, 1 ~

 

Series Introduction ~ The one true God is a relational God who desires interaction with His created humans.  But it is up to each person to choose to listen carefully to the God of this universe.  In this series we look at various ways God communicates to us if we are willing to listen.  Keep in mind throughout this series that the most basic and important way to hear from God is read The Holy Bible with an open mind. 

 

Scripture ~ The ESV, NLT, and CSB translations also word it as 'whisper,' while other translations word it as: "and after the fire a still small voice." (1 Kings 19:11 KJV & NKJV) and "and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing." (NASB).

 

Elijah ~ If you are not familiar with the story of Elijah, I would encourage you to spend some time reading it. By the time we get to 1 Kings19, Elijah had just experienced a tremendous victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. As a result of this victory, a hit was put out on him. Queen Jezebel wanted him dead and made it very clear this was her intention. When Elijah heard this, he did what many wise men of God would do. He ran for his life. By the way, this is not figurative this is literal. He ran away and hid because he was afraid. This is also a reminder that no matter how great a man or woman of God is they are still human. Elijah had human emotions. Highs and lows. Great boldness and great fear all coming from the man of God. By the time we get to 1 Kings 19 Elijah is tired, he’s dejected, he feels all alone, and he is ready to give up. This depressed version of Elijah makes his way to Horeb, the mountain of God. It is in this place that God visits him, and God speaks which leads us to the verse I want you to look at.

 

"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?'” (1 kings 19:11-13, NIV, bold emphasis added).

 

There are so many things you can pull from this story but the question I want to pose to you is this one. What is the significance of God appearing to Elijah in a gentle whisper in I Kings 19?

 

In the next four posts we will give Four Reasons the Gentle Whisper Matters

 

~ Copied: Clarence L. Haynes Jr.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Bible Version: Quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.  Emphasis is added.

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