The Way God Speaks Part 4: "God Whispers"

LBS

The Way God Speaks

Part 4

God Whispers

1 Kings 19

    Elijah ran hard and fast. Fearing the threat of Jezebel, he knew he had to get out of Israel. “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them” (1 Kings 19:2). Jezebel’s words haunted him every step of the way. She was referring to the pagan prophets whom, with the help of God, Elijah had defeated on top of Mount Carmel.

    Elijah ran. Finally, he collapsed beneath a desert shrub. Without hope, he wanted to die. In fact, he begged God to take his life. He fell asleep. When he awoke, he was greeted by an angel, who fed him bread and gave him water. The humble meal gave Elijah the strength he needed to keep going. Infused with hope and the power of God, Elijah had enough sustenance to travel the forty days to Horeb, also known as the mountain of God. This was the same mountain where Moses had met God many years before. 

    Tucked away in a cave, Elijah heard the voice of God ask, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah Recounted recent events: his attack on the false prophets and Jezebel’s death threats. God didn’t answer a single one of Elijah’s concerns, instead the Lord commanded Elijah to go the mountainside and wait for Him to pass by. 

    As Elijah waited on God, a powerful, loud wind to at the mountains, breaking branches and crushing rocks. But the Lord was not in the wind. Then a terrifying earthquake shook the whole mountain causing rocks to fall. But the Lord was not in the earthquake.Then a horrifying fire swept the mountainside. But the Lord was not in the fire. Then Elijah heard a gentle whisper. The Lord was in this Whisper-speaking through the sheer silence, and capturing Elijah’s attention. 

     Just like Elijah in 1 Kings 19, we all feel frail and weak against our enemies. Like Elijah, we have days when we feel as though we’re at the end of our rope and ready to let go. But even in those moments, God is on our side. He wants to speak to us. Though we may desire God to speak through “louder” means. God frequently speaks in a whisper. One reason for this may be that it invites us into a closer relationship with Him. When you whispers to us, it’s an invitation to lean in to our relationship with Him, to get even closer than we may have ever been in the past. 

1. Read 1 Kings 19:1-9.  Have you ever had a time in you life when, like Elijah, you were ready to give up? What gave you the strength to make it through that time?
2. In a moment in time, God met one of HIs prophets’ needs on every level-spiritually, physically, emotionally, and relationally. Reflecting on 1 Kings 19:1-18, how did God meet Elijah in each of the following ways:

Spiritually______________________________________________________________

Physically______________________________________________________________

Emotionally____________________________________________________________

Relationally____________________________________________________________

In your own times of need, how has God met you in each of these ways?

Spiritually _____________________________________________________________

Physically_____________________________________________________________

Emotionally ___________________________________________________________

Relationally____________________________________________________________