That Still Small Voice

In our text today (1 Kings 19:9-21), God reveals Himself to Elijah and speaks to him. But He does not speak to Elijah out of His omnipotence; He does not speak in a loud and dramatic fashion, calling attention to Himself. Rather He is still and soft. He speaks to Elijah out of the quietness and in “a still small voice” (v. 12b).

The greatest work Christ ever did for you was to die on the cross in your place, to give you new life and eternal life in Him. That was the single most important thing He did for you since sin entered the world. But it was not done out of strength, it was not done out of power, though Christ is the omnipotent, all-powerful God of Creation.

His work of salvation was done out of weakness and suffering. It was done on a cross while the world looked on in disbelief and a total lack of understanding. As they looked on, they saw the weakness and suffering of Christ on the cross as a total defeat. Instead it was a total victory! They were fools. They did not understand.

David said, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.” (Psalm 14:1-3)

Paul quotes from this Psalm when he says, “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.” (Rom. 3:10-12)

Sometimes we are only a step ahead of the fool who denies the very existence of God. We believe in God, but we do not listen to Him. We are afraid to listen to the voice of God. We want to have that “pity party” and feel sorry for ourselves, like we see Elijah doing. It we listen to the voice of God, we will not be able to do that.

To his credit, Elijah did listen to God and he also took action because of what he heard. He did not mind listening for the voice of God, because he made a habit of listening to the Lord and of doing according to His Word.

What Elijah understood and what we need to learn is that God’s voice is friendly. He seeks only our best. We need not fear His voice, but we must listen for His voice with a heart that is ready to obey. That is what Elijah did.

The chapter begins with Elijah on the run, hoping to save himself. When he stops running, he argues with God in an attempt to defend himself. He goes from the mountaintop to the swamp, but in the end his strength is restored, both physically and spiritually, and he obeys God, yields himself to Him, and is returned to his work of service.

In all that he did, Elijah responded to the voice of God. He felt like giving up, but he did not. Instead he listened for God's voice and when God spoke to him, he acted on the Word God spoke. When we feel like giving up and walking away we too need to stop and listen for the voice of God.

The unbelief and fear that the people of Israel showed at Kadesh Barnea caused them to wander for 40 years in the wilderness (Num. 13-14). Elijah's unbelief and fear led to his 40 day trial in that same desert (v. 8). Yet the Lord directed his steps all along the way, using this time in the wilderness to prepare Elijah to meet Him anew.

When he arrived at Mount Horeb, “he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place” (v. 9). He made this cave his home and he waited on the Lord “in that place.” This cave is special. Not only is this Mount Sinai (or Mount Horeb), the very mountain where God met Moses in the burning bush some 400 years earlier and wrote the Ten Commandments with the finger of God, but this is possibly the same cave or “cleft of the rock” where God put Moses while His glory passed by.

The Hebrew literally says, “He came there to the cave” (The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Volume 4. 149). Note the use of the definite article “the.” This is not just “a” cave, this is “the” cave. So it is possibly the very "cleft of the rock" where God had placed Moses as his glory passed by (Exodus 33:22-23).

In this sacred cave Elijah waited on the Lord. He was depressed. He was ready to give up both his calling and his life. Remember verse 4 when Elijah sat under “a broom tree” and prayed, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” What a sad day it was. But Elijah did the right thing: he got away from it all and sought the Lord.

The Lord came and met him, just as Elijah had hoped. But He didn’t come to chastise Elijah or even to instruct him. He came to ask him a question: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (v. 9b)

Elijah avoids the question. He says simply, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (v. 10)

Rather than admit he is hiding, he complains that God’s people have gone astray, killed the prophets, and put a contract out on his life as well! He exaggerates.

He would repeat the question, but first He revealed His power to Elijah in order to let him know that God does not always speak in dramatic form. In fact He rarely does. If you want to hear God’s voice, you have to listen carefully for that “still small voice” of God that comes to us without all the noise.

“Then He said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.’ And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” (vs. 11-12)

That "still small voice" (v. 12b) shook Elijah to the core. All the Lord wants is for us to listen and let Him guide us by that “still small voice.” Elijah listened. He heard that “still small voice.” And “when Elijah heard it…he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave” (v. 13a). He was ready to hear the Word of the Lord.

Sometimes we too need to find our way through all of the noise and listen for that “still small voice” of God. He is there and He is speaking to our hearts. It’s just that oftentimes we are not listening. We don’t listen because we don’t want to obey. It seems easier to put our nose to the grind and do it ourselves, in our own power. But that doesn't work. We need God's guidance and His power.

Again the question was asked: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (v. 13b). And again Elijah gave the same response: “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (v. 14). Elijah, Elijah! It was time to quit speaking. It was time to listen!

That “still small voice” brings the Word of God to the listening ear and the contrite heart. There is a time and a place for the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but most of the time God speaks directly to our hearts with that gentle whisper, with a quiet persuasion. God’s Word is like a gentle breeze that cools and refreshes, cleanses and produces life.

With Elijah ready to listen, the Lord God wasted no time in giving instructions: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place” (vs. 15-16). It was time to pass the torch to Elisha to equip a new generation.

He is told that by his words and works Elisha will finish the work (v. 17). He is further told that he is not alone (v. 18). So he did as instructed (vs. 19-21). Elijah listened to God’s “still small voice” and did as the Lord led him.

Elijah had his moments. At times he walked by sight and not by faith, yet he had an ear to hear the “still small voice” of God. Do you hear His voice? Listen carefully and follow Him faithfully. Amen.

From the Mountaintop to the Swamp and Back Again

It has been far too long since my last post, which was at Christmas. My resolution is to do better in 2015. A lot has been happening. I am still searching for the churcch miniistry God has for me. Also, on a good note, Barbara has just two chemo treatments left.

Now it is time to return to the story of Elijah. We pick up the story in 1 Kings 19:1-8. Elijah has just called down fire from heaven, defeating the prophets of Baal.  (1 Kings 18). Now Elijah deals with a real threat on his life. Elijah struggles with the issue and chapter 19 gives great insight into how he handles the problem.

James 5:17 says that “Elijah was as human as we are” (NLT). We often tend to think of the men and women in Scripture as being nearly perfect. They were not. They are “as human as we are,” just like James said. In 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul called the Bible the “word of truth,” and the Bible describes the failures and shortcomings of even the greatest people in Scripture, as well as their successes.

When James wrote those words about Elijah being human, he may have had 1 Kings 18 and 19 in mind. In these two chapters we see Elijah at the height of his ministry, on the mountain top calling down fire from heaven, and at his lowest moment, sulking under a “juniper tree” (19:5, NASB).

How many times over the years have even the best of Christians sunk deep into despair not long after experiencing a great victory for God? In Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan describes a deep bog referred to as “the slough of despond,” or “the swamp of despair.” Christian, under the weight of his sin and guilt, finds himself sinking deep into this bog. And all because the enemy has driven him to despair.

In Scripture, some of God’s greatest leaders struggled with despair and discouragement as well. But what we also see in Scripture is that, in spite of the fact they were human like us, having many shortcomings, they knew how to get back on track with the Lord. By paying close attention to stories such as this one about Elijah, we can learn as much from their defeats as we can from their victories.

Stories like this remind us to always be ready for what sometimes happens after the victories God gives us. How quickly we can go from the mountaintop to the valley, or “the swamp.” Humble yourself before the Lord. Be ready for the trials that so often follow the victories.

The chapter begins with Elijah on the run, hoping to save himself. When he stops running, he argues with God in an attempt to defend himself. We would probably say he was suffering from a textbook case of burnout. He was exhausted and depressed. There was a  contract out on him and he fled for his life. It may be he thought himself a failure because his work failed to sway the king toward God. As a result He fell into a time of self-pity. So Elijah goes from the mountaintop to the swamp, but in the end his strength is restored physically and spiritually, he obeys God, yields himself to Him, and is returned to his work of service.

The text does not say how Ahab broke the news to Jezebel of what had taken place on Mount Carmel. It does not say how he went about telling her that Baal had been put to the test by Elijah and defeated. It does not say how Ahab informed Jezebel that Baal had been humiliated and declared to be false before all the people. Nor does it say how Ahab told Jezebel that all her prophets of Baal had been executed. What the text does say is simply, “Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword” (v. 1).

“Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time’” (v. 2). Jezebel put out a contract on his life and it put him to flight: “And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there” (v. 3). His was a natural reaction. Any one of us may have done the same. When persecution sets in we tend to run and hide, just like Elijah did. It’s only natural.

But is that the right reaction? When we suffer and are persecuted by enemies of Christ, should we run and hide? That is what Elijah did. He “ran for his life” (v. 3a) and found a place to hide and sulk. “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree” (v. 4a). Is that the response we should have? Should we cower before the enemy? Should we run and hide and sulk, saying “Woe is me”? Probably not.

What should our reaction be? When everything begins to go south and seems to go wrong, when we don’t get the results we expected from our outreach to others and persecution sets in, don’t run and hide and sulk. Instead, kneel and pray and seek God’s face. Don’t give the enemy any inkling of victory. When things don’t go as expected, seize the moment by going to God in prayer. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Stay alert! Kneel and pray!

That is what Elijah did after he ran and hid. Well sort of. He prayed alright, but his prayer was nothing more than a way of sulking and complaining. “And he prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!’” (v. 4b).

But, you know what? Sometimes that is precisely where we are, and where we need to begin. Not being suicidal, but being honest with God. When things go wrong, and we are suffering and discouraged like Elijah, we need to pray like Elijah did. He didn’t mince words. He was honest with God and simply put into words what he felt inside. It was a good beginning. His honesty with God prepared him to rise up from the swamp and come back again into a closer walk with God.

Sometimes you just need to take a little nap. You need rest. Whether you are discouraged or just plain exhausted, either way, the best remedy is sleep. And that is what Elijah did—he slept. In Mark 6:31 Jesus said to His disciples, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” That is where Elijah was. He was discouraged and exhausted. He needed some rest.

As he slept he was visited by an angel; an angel with a purpose—to renew his strength. “Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, ‘Arise and eat’” (v. 5). Then verse 7 says, “And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, ‘Arise and eat.” Here this visitor is referred to as “the angel of the LORD,” an Old Testament title for the pre-incarnate Christ. Elijah was visited by Jesus!

When the angel awoke him the first time, Elijah “looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again” (v. 6). He was allowed to sleep a little longer; how long we do not know, we are not told. But at some point Jesus woke him a second time. This time Jesus told Elijah to “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you” (v. 7b).

Jesus knew where Elijah planned to go. He was headed for Mount Sinai, one of the most sacred places in all of Jewish history. Sinai was located about 250 miles from Beersheba. It would be a very long journey, so Elijah needed strength beyond measure. The Lord renewed his strength.

When you look at how God worked in Elijah’s life and ministry in 1 Kings 18 and 19, you can see the promise of Isaiah 40:31 written all over it. “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

For three and a half years God hid Elijah. Throughout that time Elijah was faithful to “wait on the LORD.” Then, when at Mount Carmel, the Lord enabled Elijah to “mount up with wings like eagles” as he called down fire from heaven defeating the prophets of Baal. Elijah followed God faithfully by praying for rain and the Lord sent the rain in abundance and strengthened Elijah to “run and not be weary.” Jesus sustained him for forty days, so he could “walk and not faint” throughout his journey.

Even though he was discouraged for a time, Elijah knew he had to “wait on the LORD,” if he was to have the strength he needed for the journey God had for him to travel. When He needed strength, the Lord renewed his strength. And all along the way the Lord was building his faith.

When you take control of your life you will find the swamp, and that is no fun. If you find yourself there, pray. God will lift you up and give you strength for the journey. If you give God control of your life you will find your way back to Him. Amen.