In 1 Kings, chapter 18, we already read about how God used Elijah to demonstrate that He is the one, true God.  What a mighty display of signs, miracles and wonders! But in today’s reading in chapter 19, the story takes a downward turn. Instead of being met with awe and wonder, Elijah is threatened with death by Jezebel. She was mad! So, Elijah took to the hills and ran for his life. He went out into the wilderness alone and sat under a tree. After outrunning Ahab’s chariot and everything else he had done in the previous days, I’m sure Elijah was tired. He began to have a pity party for himself. Sounds to me like he was worn out and hangry! He laid down for a nice long nap. Then, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him to get up and eat. He provided bread and water for Elijah. He napped and ate until he was fortified for the 40 day journey to Mount Sinai. Once arriving there, the Lord began speaking to him again. He asked Elijah what he was doing and Elijah started his pity party business again. Then something interesting happened. God caused a mighty windstorm to shake the mountain, then an earthquake, and finally a fire. Elijah stood there, expecting God to manifest Himself in these loud, dramatic demonstrations because that’s what he was used to. But He did not. Instead, he heard a still, small voice and this was the voice of the Lord. In a gentle whisper, God spoke to Elijah and instructed him on his next assignment, which included anointing Elisha, his eventual replacement. I believe God knew Elijah needed a little TLC and gentleness after all he had done and to prepare him for the next stage of his journey. 

How do you hear from God? I hear from God in a similar still, small voice. Unlike the days in which Elijah lived, we have the Spirit of God living inside of us and He is always speaking. If we do not think that He speaks to us, then we are not listening. If we can not seem to hear His voice, maybe we are not reading His Word. But if we silence the noise around us, quiet ourselves and turn our ears to Him, we will hear that gentle whisper of our Father. He speaks in the mundane tasks of our days and in the hustle bustle of life. If we open our ears, tune into His Word and desire intimacy with Him, we will hear Him speaking words of love, correction, adoration, direction and encouragement to us. This gentle whisper can be heard best when we are close to Him, intimately close. James 4:8 says if we draw close to God, He will draw close to us. Let’s tune into the voice of our Father today and hear all the wonderful, life-changing things He is speaking over us!