Get serious now ... a still, small voice?

Listen along here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/22cd3b60/get-serious-no...

We are going on a journey in search of the God who speaks - well, actually this is Day three of our exploration. Truth: God speaks to us, but we must we have ears to hear.

Today, I should like to take you to a cave in Southern Israel. In reality, it is not too far from Gaza, where the Israeli Defense Forces are in search of their hostages, on a mission to keep Israel safe from another terrorist invasion like that of October 7. Not too many people are choosing to travel to the area we will visit today, as it is a short 41.1 km, a mere 25 miles from Gaza, but well worth our time to take a close look at what happened there.

Israel has many rocky areas that house caves of various types--think of those caves not far from the Dead Sea where the ancient biblical manuscripts were found in 1947. Then there are the caves in which David hid from Saul at beautiful Ein Gedi, not far from the caves of the scrolls. Today we will consider a cave near Beersheba.

A man runs there to hide after securing a magnanimous victory - a moral and spiritual victory over the forces of evil that all living in Israel know about--from the government officials to the locals; the man, Elijah.  You know, sometimes we experience moral victories and we are the only ones who know besides God; but in this case, God lets it be known that he is the only all-powerful, all knowing righteous God, coming in response to Elijah’s great faith, which is on display for all to see.  

In our last briefing, I referenced 1 Samuel chapter 12 in the Old Testament; today, very nearby in your Bible, the book of 1 Kings, more on ancient Israel. Chapter 18 records this courageous showdown more than 3000 years ago, when Elijah takes on a wicked king in front of what had to be thousands of men--from the prophets of Baal, prophets of Asherah and all those looking on and up onto Mt. Carmel.  [Friends, it is a beautiful setting!] God demolishes them. Period. It's a great story, and biblical wit is on display as well. The passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2018%3A20-40...

But what happens next, after that miraculous move of God, is really quite unbelievable. That is, until I remember myself and my weakness. When a huge challenge comes along, and my body betrays me, my anxious innards start to churn, then, yes, I am just as weak as Elijah, despite my very great faith.

Following the contest on Mt. Carmel, where evil is shut down by the power of God, Jezebel, wife of King Ahab, the wicked complicit king, issues a threat against Elijah's life, and Elijah is so affected, so discouraged, he runs many miles and hides in fear!

"And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10) So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

11) Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord wasnot 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."

From 1 Kings 19

I love how the Lord came to Elijah in the above passage--in the still, small voice.

Note: God came to Elijah when he was running from him, scared, depressed. As long as we have breath in our bodies, God will always be reaching out to us.  He will always have something to say to us.

This song quiets me, reminds me why I want to hear God talk~please listen:

"In the Secret", Shane & Shane, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=126PB9K-9lg

Into our quiet, God speaks.

Christine

PastorWoman.net