Written by Eric R
The human mind gets attracted to anything spectacular; of course, it is pretty natural. In particular, we expect something supernatural when it comes to divine intervention.
Prophet Elijah, the symbol of prophets, was taken to heaven by the Lord alive. A few thousand years later, in the New Testament, Elijah and Moses were seen by the disciples talking to the Lord Jesus Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Once, when Prophet Elijah was on this earth, during the regime of King Ahab, he was deeply depressed after accomplishing the greatest ever mission for the Lord in the history of this world.
He challenged the prophets of Baal, manifested the power of the Lord God while offering sacrifice to Him. People who were present declared, "The Lord is God." He also killed 400 prophets who Jezebel appointed.
He prayed for a miracle, and God sent rushing rains after three and half years of drought; he was energetic enough to run past the chariots of King Ahab.
But soon, Elijah ran for his life, retreated himself, was in the hideout, fearing the challenge of Jezebel. He was so frustrated that he wanted God to take his life.
He felt that he had done so much for God. He thought that none other than him had shown jealous for the Lord.
That was the exact time the Lord God encountered him. Read the verses from; I Kings 19:11-14
11 And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke 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, the sound of a low whisper.
13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
These verses teach us something contrary to our expectations; God was not in the strong wind, neither was He in the earthquake nor was He in the fire, but, He spoke to Elijah in a feeble low whisper.
Of course, the Lord had spoken in a mighty thundering voice at times, but, He hasn't been louder with spectacular animations all the time. More specifically, when we expect Him to be loud and clear at the time of depression and frustration, He chooses to talk to us in a humble and feeble voice.
Have we fine-tuned our ears to identify the feeble voice of the Lord?
Let's see how someone in the New Testament fine-tuned her ears.
Jesus met Mary Magdelene after His resurrection; Mary and other disciples never believed that Jesus would resurrect on the third day despite hearing Him prophesied time and again.
Mary never expected to meet with the Lord Jesus Christ at the dawn of the first day of the week. According to her, Jesus has died and gone once for all.
While she was under the impression that the gardener was standing there, she heard Jesus calling her Mary. Immediately, she identified that it was Jesus by His feeble voice. It was the voice that Mary had heard many, many times. She knew it already, the gracious tone and the concern mixed in the voice of the Lord.
Mary approached Him calling "Rabboni!" even before He introduced Himself. She had fine-tuned her ears to identify the feeble voice of the Lord Jesus when she was in the most desperate situation.
Today, God encourages us to fine-tune our ears and practice listening and identifying the Holy Spirit's feeble whisper instead of expecting something spectacular and dramatic.
If we submit ourselves to change our attitude and pray to God to help us grow in this way of understanding, He is faithful enough to enhance our ability to hear His feeble whisper and prompt us with the Word of God to substantiate what we have heard.
May God bless you.
