Elijah just had a huge victory against the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel when God answered by fire. Now, a wanted man, Elijah was on the run. Jezebel had sworn she would kill him in the next 24 hours.
Elijah ran all day into the desert and finally, collapsed under a juniper tree so exhausted all he wanted was to die. He fell asleep and was woken by an angel, who had prepared food to sustain him. Elijah slept again and again was fed by the angel. Energized by that heavenly food, Elijah traveled 40 days and nights until he came to Mount Horeb and hid himself in cave.
Then, God spoke. "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
Elijah laments, "LORD GOD, I've been faithful to you, but everyone else has turned their backs on you. All of your prophets have been killed. I'm the only one left and they want me dead too."
This question and answer time is interesting. God, obviously, had seen all that had happened. Elijah should have known that He knew it all already. But God was about to give Elijah another demonstration of His power.
God tells Elijah to go and stand on the mountain.
And, behold, the Lord passed by, and 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: 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).
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would speak to us in much the same way.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come (John 16:13).
Sometimes, God does answer by fire as He did on Mount Carmel, or in some other powerful and visible way. Many times, however, He wants us to simply hear His voice - His still, small voice. It is by His still, small voice that he reveals truth to our hears and increases our understanding of the Word of God, of who God is and of who we are.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-11).
When Jesus was with His disciples here on earth, they has an amazing privilege, to watch how the Son of God, the living Word of God lived out the written Word of God. Jesus is here with us, but not in the same physical sense He was for the disciples. He sent us the Holy Spirit to guide the way for us.
1 Corinthians 3:16 tells us that the Spirit of God dwells within us and He bears witness to our spirit that we are the children of God (Romans 8:16).
His still, small voice is the voice we hear when God's Word comes together in our heart and mind to reveal truth to us.
His still, small voice is the voice we hear at 3 a.m., urging us to get out of bed and pray earnestly for someone.
His still, small voice is the voice we hear when we are tempted, telling us, "No. Don't go there."
His still, small voice is the voice we hear, prompting us to act or not to act in a given situation.
His still, small voice is the voice we hear, reminding us not to repeat the gossip we just heard about another person.
His still, small voice is the voice we hear, pushing us to start up a conversation with the person seated next to us on the plane.
His still, small voice is the voice we hear, encouraging us that God knows, sees and cares when trouble comes.
His still, small voice is the voice we hear, reminding us that we belong to God.
Sometimes, God does answer by fire as He did on Mount Carmel, or in some other powerful and visible way. Many times, however, He wants us to simply hear His voice - His still, small voice.
A still, small voice.
{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.
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