God's Still Small Voice

Scripture:  I Kings 19:11-14 -  Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

We are living in an age where we are so busy, and our lives are consumed with activities and so much electronic devices. If we are not careful, these things can drown out the voice of God.  It is critical that we take time to connect with God in our relationship with Him daily that He may speak to our hearts.  We need to step back from the noise and activity of our busy lives and listen humbly and quietly to engage with God through His word.  We are not listening for an audible voice of God but his still small voice as He speaks through His inspired word  -- just as God spoke to Elijah through a still small voice. That speaks great volumes.  God revealed to Elijah that he does not only speak through powerful and miraculous ways.  Sometimes we as Christians are always looking for God to speak to us through something that is big like a big ministry that has a highly visible leader.  That’s why sometimes we may miss God speaking to us, because God is often found gently whispering in the quietness of a humbled and obedient heart.  His word speaks with great volume.  Be still and know that I am God.  (Psalms 46:10)  Take time to come into God’s presence to surrender all to Him and wait for Him to speak to your heart.

Elijah, a great prophet of God, won the victory on Mount Carmel.  He challenged the people by saying “How long will you falter between two opinions?”  If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is your god, follow him.  The story ended in I Kings 18:36-40. Elijah called on the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.  Hear me, O Lord then. Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice.  Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and they said the Lord He is God!  Elijah said to them to siege the prophets of Baal, and he executed them all.  The question is -- Are we taking a stand like Elijah did?  He called the people to turn their hearts back to God.  He said they had forsaken the commandments of the Lord and followed after Baal. (I Kings 17:18)  God will honor those who honor Him with their life just as He spoke to Elijah and honored Him with the victory at Mount Carmel.  Jezebel threatened to kill Elijah.  Fear came upon Elijah, and he ran for his life.  In his failure and fear, God came to him when he was depressed and was at a dark time in his life. God touched/ministered to his needs. (Elijah 19:1-18) He encouraged him and spoke a word of life back into him out of a cave.  Have you ever felt like everything around you made you feel like you were trapped in a cave?  Call upon God and He will speak to your heart.  A broken and contrite heart He will not despise (Psalms 51:1 – 17).

Three lessons that God revealed from His still small voice to Elijah and to us were:  (1) Even when we fail, God will meet us where we are to speak a word for us to restore us for his purpose.  He still had work for Elijah to do.  He was not finished with Elijah’s life.  (2)  When you feel down after a great spiritual experience, do not let fear rule your mind and thoughts.  It is an attack from the devil.    (3) Remember God can speak through small things – like a donkey. The Lord God told Elijah that He had a remnant  -- seven thousand He had reserved in Israel that had not bowed to Baal, and that Elijah was not the only left.
Are you bowing down to the false voice of Baal?  Or are you bowing down to the true voice of the Lord God of Israel?  I encourage you to choose to listen to the Lord God of Israel.  Choose the voice of God not the voice of Baal.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, where would I be if you didn’t speak to me through Your word (Hebrews 1:1-2), Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, that guides us and gives us discernment to hear Your voice when You speak to us?  Thank You for Your still small voice!  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(by Pastor Robert Williams)