1 Kings 19:1-21 "Hearing God In The Normal"

After the prophet Elijah confronted and bested the prophets of Baal, Queen Jezebel vowed revenge. And Elijah, who had been fearless before the false prophets, became afraid and he ran and hid.

At this point, Elijah is terribly depressed. He does not even want to go on living. And apparently, he is also a little angry with God. He is feeling sorry for himself. 

I think I understand how he was feeling. He was thinking to himself that he had been faithful, that he had done what God had commanded, that he had even been vindicated by God before the nation. God had used him in a mighty way. And yet, instead of being rewarded for his faithfulness, his life was still in jeopardy. He was being hunted. 

If I'm honest, I sometimes feel like that. I sometimes want God to reward me right here and now for the times I am faithful. Sometimes I even begin to think that I deserve better treatment. More recognition. A little honor, perhaps?

But God simply said to Elijah, "What are you doing up here hiding, feeling sorry for yourself? The job's not done yet. There is still much to do." 

Then God told Elijah to prepare himself, because He was going to speak. You might remember the story. There was a mighty wind -a tornado or a hurricane. It was a massive display of power and force; but God didn't speak in the wind.

Then there was an earthquake. The mountain shook and rocks split. Again, it was a massive display of power and force; but God didn't speak in the earthquake.

Next came a raging fire. It was intense. Whole trees were consumed. But God didn't speak in the fire.

Believe me, Elijah was listening for God in the mighty wind. He was watching for God in the earthquake. He was certain he would find God in the raging fire. But when God spoke, it was unexpectedly in the gentlest of whispers. Why? Why did God send these spectacular catastrophic events? Then, why did He choose to communicate in the still small voice?

I think God sent the spectacular, the powerful, and the catastrophic to remind Elijah who was in control. God can use any means He chooses to accomplish His will. If He desires, all nature is at His command.

But Elijah (and maybe me) needed to be reminded that the lasting, enduring work of God is usually accomplished in the small things -in the quiet places of our hearts even when we are lonely or nervous or fearful or anxious.

The big events are great and many times God uses mountaintop experiences in our lives to grow us and encourage us. But too often we seek God in the spectacular and the extraordinary and the loud and the big -while God is waiting for us in the quiet and the ordinary.

It is not our place to question God's methods. He will use the spectacular when He sees fit for His own purposes, and His own honor, and His own glory. Occasionally God will communicate with us through the spectacular, but it is often our place to be still and listen for the gentle whisper of God in the quiet, intimate moments of the normal.