"...did you feel the mountains tremble?"

Did you hear it? In fact...when was the last time you heard it? Sometimes...it’s so small...so faint...it honestly is easy to miss if you’re not achingly listening for it. And often it’s because of our own doing. Waking up...rushing to get ready for the day...running out the door...cranking up the music to “wake up”...doing our thing at school...or work...heading home late in the day...tired...worn out...listening to more music to soothe our souls...walking into the house to drop off into bed. The drama of the day...the loudness of the music...things...stuff...even people...are all things that can drown out the voice of God. God is a jealous God. He does not like to contend with things we’ve brought into our lives. He doesn’t want to have...strike that...He refuses to contend with the music and the noise of our lives, but He is faithful to those that are faithful to Him. Read I Kings 19:9b-18:

The LORD Appears to Elijah And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." 11 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 the 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. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." 15 The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel-all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."

I love that. Right there at the end of verse 12: “And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.” How tuned into God’s voice was Elijah? He didn’t allow the great and mighty wind...so mighty that it tore the mountains apart, nor did he allow the earthquake that rocked and rolled the landscape on which he stood, nor not even the fire that came after that to dissuade him. He stood firm...refused the noise...refused the commotion...stood firm with his ear turned upwards and outwards anxiously awaiting God’s word...waiting for the Lord to pass by...which did come...and came on a gentle whisper. And look at how mighty the words God had for Elijah that came after were? In a matter of just a few breathes, God anointed both a new king for Israel and Elijah’s successor. Wow...I mean...wow! And all that...simply because Elijah was faithful...and patient...and not too busy to stop and listen through the mighty wind...through the earthquake...and even through the fire...for that still small voice which carried with it words that would change the face of a nation. We see that the natural phenomenon preceding the presence of the Lord did not shake Elijah, but neither did the fact that he was being hunted down to be murdered. Check verse 14: “14 He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’” And yet...through all he endeavored...he was patient...he went to the place God instructed...and stood firm in the place that God commanded him to stand...even with the threat of being murdered...with the tumultuousness of the mighty wind...with the thrashing of an earthquake...and with the ravishing of the fire...he was not moved. There...in that cave...Elijah waited...and then he heard it...coming as a gentle whisper...the voice of God. And he responded: “13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.” And what a message did that voice bring. So, today, unplug the television...turn down the radio...still the voices in your head...go kneel in submission in your dark quiet closet if necessary...and wait for it. God is coming...and He wants to speak to you. Will you be standing on that mountain when the Lord passes by?