One thing that has always amazed me about God is His tendency to be the opposite of what one expects of an all-powerful ruler. In the new testament they expected a liberating king to overthrow the rule of the Romans… but Christ came to the family of a carpenter and died on a cross. A perfect being, He judges and speaks truth in love to those who believe rather than casting them aside for their mistakes and failures. God does not conform to our humanly ideas of who He should be. He is so much more.
Reading through scripture, the story that has always fascinated and mystified me is Elijah’s encounter with God.
1 Kings 19:11-13 – “The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered 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. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. 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.”
When I first read this passage, I was sure that the all-powerful, magnificent, and glorious God who defied death and created the world would have appeared in a way that demonstrated the might of who He is. But like I said, God likes to blow our minds in unexpected ways. Rather than choosing the loud and attention-grabbing displays, He chose to reveal Himself in a quiet and comforting whisper. Elijah knew exactly when God was speaking because He (God) came in a way that stood apart from the chaos of Elijah’s world.
Looking back on my journey that began my junior year of high school, I can easily identify the wind and the earthquake and the fire. When I was placed in the hospital, struggling with anorexia, I can assure you that the pain and chaos was loud. I was certain the Lord would use this to instruct me, and I prayed and desperately sought answers, but received no response. My car screeching and crashing into the oncoming vehicle, crumpling and spinning in the intersection caused mass destruction, but again I received no instruction or clarification for my struggles. Finally, searing pain ripping through my joints and quickly spreading to ignite my body in an unbearable struggle appeared to be the moment where God would sweep in and explain the reason for the trouble…offer answers…grab my attention. But it wasn’t.
The problem is that in a world already full of chaos and noise and destruction, grabbing our attention would be impossible as displays of power and strength would fade into the background of our culture. However, a whisper…that is distinct. It is so unlike the fast pace culture that it stops you in your tracks, and you must draw near to listen. And that is how God comes to us. Not screaming and waving His hands above His head, but in a gentle hand touching your arm and pulling you into a peace that is unlike any other experience.
After all of my trials, my whisper did come. It came late at night, at 3am with worship music playing softly in the background as I was trying to calm myself to fall asleep. I can assure you that as a peace surpassing all understanding washed over me that night, I could feel God speaking to my soul. Reassuring me of His purpose and plan for what He was allowing me to endure. Reminding me that with Him I could overcome whatever was ahead. And I have never felt God’s presence more clearly than in the dead, dark silence of night.
In our culture, it is so easy to assume that God will speak to us through flashing signs, mega screens, and deafening messages. That is how our culture grabs our attention and makes us listen to what is new and exciting and trendy. But God works in ways that oppose the ways of the world. Though, He has the ability to use many different ways to show us His plan and offer us words of advice and encouragement, and it may end up being loud and magnificent for some, it may also come softly amidst the chaos in the form of a whisper.
Comments