|
Many times I believe that God is leading and guiding us but we are to busy with our own stuff to hear Him!
I also believe that to many times we are looking for the spectacular when God is speaking in that still small voice! As an example in I Kings 18 and 19 we have the story of Elijah and Ahab and Jezebel. In chapter 18 Elijah had just challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest up on mount carmel as to who was the real God. Of course God wins the challenge and Elijah kills all 450 of the false prophets of Baal. As we begin chapter 19 Jezebel sends a message to Elijah telling him that she was going to kill him and what does this great prophet do? He runs for his life! After running all day he stops and asked the Lord to just take his life. Instead of doing that the Lord sends an angel to give him food to strengthen him for the journey that was before him. And beginning with verse 8 of chapter 19 Elijah and god have this discussion: 1 Kings 19:8-18 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. [9] And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? [10] And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. [11] And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks 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] And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? [14] And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. [15] And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: [16] And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. [17] And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. [18] Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. So he runs to a cave on Mount Horeb and God puts on a spectacular display of His power, but each time He says that the Lord was not in them. But after all the spectacular God speaks in a still small voice. Immediately I believe that Elijah knew how foolish he had been, he was pouting because he thought that he was the only one who was left serving the Lord. On this day God shows Him otherwise and confirms that He is still God and is still watching over Elijah and that God will give him all he would need to carry out His will and plan for his life! How about us? Have we been so busy with our stuff that we can't hear that still small voice? Have we been lead astray by the spectacular only to realize that God was not in it? We must stop and get alone with the Lord and His word and allow Him to speak! We need to be like Samuel when the Lord called Him and say speak Lord for thy servant heareth! Won't you ask the Lord to forgive you for being to busy to hear and then get alone and allow Him to speak to you? Until next time, Roger Penny |
AuthorsA few thoughts on current events, upcoming sermons and other matters of concern from a Biblical perspective. Archives
May 2014
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
