Get It In Place

When God spoke to Elijah again after his 40-day trek to reach Mount Horeb, he was still feeling somewhat alone and afraid and maybe a little disoriented from the 40 day journey. God asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” His response clearly indicates he was still feeling quite alone. God told him, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Verse 11 of the 19th chapter of 1 Kings continues, “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.”
I visualize the intense potency of the separation of the mountains and the smashing of the rocks; all done by the might and intensity of the wind, that the Lord sent. Can you imagine the clamor and uproar of such demonstration of power? But, God wasn’t in any of that. He wasn’t even in the fire that came thereafter. So where was God? “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.” Elijah knew when he was in God’s presence; he covered his face and went out and stood. When he heard the “whisper” he made his move. Why? Elijah knew that the “gentle whisper” was God’s voice.
How many times have you and I missed God’s voice? We aren’t listening. We are too absorbed with our personal sentiments. Elijah certainly was, but when he heard the “gentle whisper” he listened. God spoke to him and told him he was not alone and gave instruction of what he had to do next.
Elijah’s heart was in place to receive the Word from God. Our heart needs to do the same. Otherwise, we won’t hear the whisper and won’t be able to listen to God’s voice. In reading this portion of Elijah’s story I realize I must ask myself constantly, “Is your heart in place?” If not, get it so or you will miss God’s direction, altogether.