“The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain, in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

1 Kings 19

A few years ago, I participated in a Bible study that was intended for adults wanting to review, re-live or re-educated themselves in a learning experience centered around studying Luther’s Small Catechism. The class was led by Pastor Alicia; and also included a number of participants who had not gone through the “confirmation” process in a Lutheran church. Those of us who had experienced the “gauntlet of catechism class”, willingly shared stories of King James Bible verse memorizations; tortured exam questions on the various elements of Luther’s “what does this mean?"; and the final “trial by fire”, standing before the congregation (including nervously cringing parents), to recite the biblically correct answers to at least 60 (maybe it was 100?) questions.

Actually - to tell the truth - Pastor Alicia’s class was a wonderful, insightful experience - and - concluded with a number of the class participating in a confirmation service affirming their faith in the Lutheran church! Also, as a part of the class, we each wrote our own faith statement (an interesting [i.e. challenging] assignment for me!). We shared them at the last class. In my faith statement, I chose to define my faith and understanding of God’s love, with Bible texts emphasizing God, the Father; God, the Son Jesus; and God, the Holy Spirit. 

In this devotional, I decided to write about my understanding of God, the Father. I see a God that is all-powerful, all-knowing, always present. But, I also experience him in my life as a loving, caring, compassionate, faithful and forgiving Father. The Bible passage I chose to write about is from the book of 1 Kings where God continues to guide the welfare of his people after the reigns of King David and King Solomon. God selects Elijah as one of His prophets to urge the Israelites to remain faithful. Elijah, however, fears that King Ahab and his queen, Jezebel, are plotting to kill him. He runs away and hides in a cave in the wilderness. God seeks him out and asks why he is hiding. Elijah complains that he is God’s last faithful believer and there are people who want to kill him. God tells him to go and stand “on the mountain before the Lord because the Lord is about to pass by.” So first, there is a mighty wind that is so strong it splits the mountains. But, the Bible says “God was not in the wind.”  After the wind, there was an earthquake; but “God was not in the earthquake.” After the earthquake, came a fire; and again, “God was not in the fire.” Then, God came to Elijah in a still, small voice, “a whisper”: "What are you doing here?” Elijah was directed to continue on his way as God’s prophet to His people; and also to seek out Elisha, chosen by God to be his successor.

It is natural to assume that God, being GOD!, would direct commands to His prophet (especially when the prophet has run away and is hiding) with a great and powerful wind - or an earthquake - or fire - to make sure Elijah is listening and will not fail to obey God’s order.  Instead, God reaches out to His faithful servant “in a whisper”, to guide and strengthen Elijah for his continuing role as a prophet to God’s people. What an amazing God! 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, in our own world of loud, intense, turbulent lives, let Your love still reach out to us in that still small voice, a whisper.  And, may we listen!