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?” (I Kings 19:11-13)
This is a fascinating encounter that Elijah has with GOD on Horeb, the mountain of GOD. Three things happen right before Elijah's eyes - wind, earthquake and fire but alas GOD wasn't there in any of them. Let's look at each one of them and find out what could be the reason.
WIND:
The Bible says in James 1:6 & 7 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. The wind here represents a man filled with doubt. Elijah after the highs of Mount Carmel is running for his life fearing a woman. That's an unlikely event happening to someone who just brought fire from the heavens. Elijah wouldn't have run for his life if there weren't any doubts about completely trusting GOD with his life. When we are filled with doubts about GOD, its highly unlikely we would hear from Him.
EARTHQUAKE:
Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. (Revelations: 16:18 & 19). Earthquake here represents the judgement of GOD on earth and its inhabitants. After a day into his journey through the wilderness Elijah says “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Elijah was distraught that his life is no better than his ancestors and that might lead to GOD judging him and punishing him. He says its better I die, rather than to fall into the hands of the living GOD. That's the same mistake we do when we approach GOD. You might be the worst sinner in the whole world, but your sins have been paid for and Jesus bore your judgement and punishment when He hung on the cross 2000 years ago. We won't find or hear GOD, if we approach Him fearing His wrath and judgement.
FIRE:
Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James: 3:5 & 6) The words of our mouth are like fire. It can set alight someone's life or destroy it. Elijah here wasn't using it for the best. Out of frustration he prayed that he should die and declares out loud that he is none better than his ancestors which was certainly not the case. When we declare or speak words of death instead of life and GOD's goodness over our lives, it will be difficult to hear from GOD.
When these three things had come and gone, there was a gentle whisper. The still small voice of GOD. Let's do everything we can to avoid doubts, fear of GOD's judgement and poor choice of words when we speak so that our ears will always be open to the still small voice of GOD.
Blessings!
This is a fascinating encounter that Elijah has with GOD on Horeb, the mountain of GOD. Three things happen right before Elijah's eyes - wind, earthquake and fire but alas GOD wasn't there in any of them. Let's look at each one of them and find out what could be the reason.
WIND:
The Bible says in James 1:6 & 7 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. The wind here represents a man filled with doubt. Elijah after the highs of Mount Carmel is running for his life fearing a woman. That's an unlikely event happening to someone who just brought fire from the heavens. Elijah wouldn't have run for his life if there weren't any doubts about completely trusting GOD with his life. When we are filled with doubts about GOD, its highly unlikely we would hear from Him.
EARTHQUAKE:
Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. (Revelations: 16:18 & 19). Earthquake here represents the judgement of GOD on earth and its inhabitants. After a day into his journey through the wilderness Elijah says “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Elijah was distraught that his life is no better than his ancestors and that might lead to GOD judging him and punishing him. He says its better I die, rather than to fall into the hands of the living GOD. That's the same mistake we do when we approach GOD. You might be the worst sinner in the whole world, but your sins have been paid for and Jesus bore your judgement and punishment when He hung on the cross 2000 years ago. We won't find or hear GOD, if we approach Him fearing His wrath and judgement.
FIRE:
Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James: 3:5 & 6) The words of our mouth are like fire. It can set alight someone's life or destroy it. Elijah here wasn't using it for the best. Out of frustration he prayed that he should die and declares out loud that he is none better than his ancestors which was certainly not the case. When we declare or speak words of death instead of life and GOD's goodness over our lives, it will be difficult to hear from GOD.
When these three things had come and gone, there was a gentle whisper. The still small voice of GOD. Let's do everything we can to avoid doubts, fear of GOD's judgement and poor choice of words when we speak so that our ears will always be open to the still small voice of GOD.
Blessings!
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