1 Kings 19:11-13 [NASB]
"11 So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking 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 After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
Elijah, at this point in time, was running for his life. Queen Jezebel killed all the prophets of God, or so he thought. Elijah was hiding in the cave of a mountain then. God knew he needed to hear from Him and needed His peace. Elijah knew the LORD, knew His voice and how He had spoken to him in the past. Elijah was ready to meet with the LORD. He needed the LORD's spirit to calm him in the midst of being chased to be killed.
As most any king, God came onto the scene here with a great fanfare - strong winds that break mountains, earthquakes that tear the ground, and fires that consume all in its path. These each happened in the presence of and in front of the LORD's arrival for Elijah. Elijah knew God had great power. He was the foremost prophet of the day. God knew Elijah's need and did not meet him in His greatness, but in the quietness his soul needed.
After the fanfare, God came to Elijah in a gentle blowing, a slight wind like a whisper. God met Elijah and gave Him His peace. Elijah knew God in many of His attributes - strong, gentle, mighty, loving. God knew Elijah needed peace and gentleness. Elijah responded to God by walking into His presence at the mouth of the cave.
God knows what our spirits need, whether it is to be reminded of His might or to have our spirits comforted and calmed. Both of these ways offer reassurance to a person that God is there and in control. When God arrives, we must not shrink back into the cave to hide more, but walk to the mouth of the cave and hear the small, gentle whisper of the LORD's voice as He reassures us of His love, His power, and His peace. When we take the step toward God to hear His voice, we can not only hear the stillness and gentleness of God's whisper, but can be still and receive calm and peace. God will gentle our spirits and give us rest from our fears.
When God comes to meet you at your spirit's need, do you step forward to acknowledge Him and receive or do you continue to shrink back in fear? God meets you at your need. Elijah needed peace and assurance. Step forward into His love, compassion, stillness, and peace. Hear the whisper of His voice. Be renewed in your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Be rewarded for your faithfulness so you will be able to continue walking forward with Him.
"11 So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking 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 After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
Elijah, at this point in time, was running for his life. Queen Jezebel killed all the prophets of God, or so he thought. Elijah was hiding in the cave of a mountain then. God knew he needed to hear from Him and needed His peace. Elijah knew the LORD, knew His voice and how He had spoken to him in the past. Elijah was ready to meet with the LORD. He needed the LORD's spirit to calm him in the midst of being chased to be killed.
As most any king, God came onto the scene here with a great fanfare - strong winds that break mountains, earthquakes that tear the ground, and fires that consume all in its path. These each happened in the presence of and in front of the LORD's arrival for Elijah. Elijah knew God had great power. He was the foremost prophet of the day. God knew Elijah's need and did not meet him in His greatness, but in the quietness his soul needed.
After the fanfare, God came to Elijah in a gentle blowing, a slight wind like a whisper. God met Elijah and gave Him His peace. Elijah knew God in many of His attributes - strong, gentle, mighty, loving. God knew Elijah needed peace and gentleness. Elijah responded to God by walking into His presence at the mouth of the cave.
God knows what our spirits need, whether it is to be reminded of His might or to have our spirits comforted and calmed. Both of these ways offer reassurance to a person that God is there and in control. When God arrives, we must not shrink back into the cave to hide more, but walk to the mouth of the cave and hear the small, gentle whisper of the LORD's voice as He reassures us of His love, His power, and His peace. When we take the step toward God to hear His voice, we can not only hear the stillness and gentleness of God's whisper, but can be still and receive calm and peace. God will gentle our spirits and give us rest from our fears.
When God comes to meet you at your spirit's need, do you step forward to acknowledge Him and receive or do you continue to shrink back in fear? God meets you at your need. Elijah needed peace and assurance. Step forward into His love, compassion, stillness, and peace. Hear the whisper of His voice. Be renewed in your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Be rewarded for your faithfulness so you will be able to continue walking forward with Him.
