A Still Small Voice

11 …A great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

(1 Kings 19:11-12)

The great prophet Elijah was no stranger to communicating with the Lord.

In the previous chapter, he had earnestly prayed and then called down fire from heaven in the presence of those who would seek to kill him. Just before the verses above, he had been miraculously provided bread and water by an angel, and then fasted in hiding for 40 days in a cave.

The great prophet Elijah was no stranger to communicating with the Lord.

At the end of this time of fasting, a great wind came. Elijah stayed in his cave. The wind was so fierce that the rocks broke in pieces. Yet Elijah remained put. An earthquake shook the land, and a fire followed the quaking. Elijah waited through all of this.

Finally came that sweet, still, small voice. Elijah made his exit.

We can learn a lot from this holy prophet. In the commotion of the world, Elijah waited steadfastly for his instructions until he heard the voice.

With all of turmoil going on around him, it is a wonder that anyone could patiently be attuned to receive the quiet whispering from the Lord. Elijah passed that test.

It is fair to point out that God is in control of all of those other forces. It is perfectly within His power to use the weather and the elements of the earth to send messages to his people, and sometimes He does purposefully speak with those forces.

Usually, however, they are just part of the landscape of a tumultuous world and provide opposition and trial for people to gain experience and wisdom from.

The Lord’s most effective message was and still is the still small voice of the Holy Ghost, which his people must patiently seek and learn how to receive.

That voice, despite whatever else is happening around, will always provide hope, assurance, and testimony of the Living God.

Listen for it. Learn to trust it. Respond to it.

For the Lord is in it!

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