And God Said, ‘Have I Got Your Attention?’

“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: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 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?” 1 Kings 19:11-13

How often it is that I have referred to the ‘still small voice of God’ in conversation. It certainly sounded ‘spiritual’ but I wonder how many of us have said it but really didn’t understand fully what was happening in Elijah’s life at the time. In the preceding chapter in 1 Kings, we read of how courageous Elijah was before King Ahab and his seers. Then, in the very next chapter, and at the end of the quoted passage, God asks, ‘What are you doing here?’ As a coward, he had fled to the Mount Horeb, which to me isn’t surprising.

Isn’t it interesting how we find ourselves acting in the moment: in the fullness of the Holy Spirit… with strength and courage; speaking out with almost a thunderous voice on God’s behalf. Yes, thunderous in the sense of the impact that we find God brought to fruition by working and speaking through us; touching the hearts and souls of men so that their voices are resoundingly heard!

Can you hear the many waters sound?
The flow of voices—
Born of saints?
Therein, God’s fount;
Eternal streams,
Pours down the sinner’s face by grace.

Yet, when God speaks to us personally, He often does so inwardly in a still small voice, although I must say we don’t always hear without the heralding that God uses to get our attention. What does it take? A great and strong wind? The breaking of rocks? An earthquake? Sometimes it does, causing us fear and anguish, but is He there? No. Many respond out of their fear to such catastrophic events but to what end? To what mountain do we run and hide? Do we see the signs and listen for God’s still small voice to hear the vital instructions for our peace? Do we rush outside and strain to hear? Do we want to hear that badly? Many don’t. Yet, if we do, then we will hear Jesus say, ‘Run to Me; your eternal shelter. My wounded side is the mountain split where you should hurry for safety.’ Of course, here I alluded to the instruction in the Book of Revelation and I think it is an appropriate allegory.

Consider what Jesus said in Matthew 24 related to the last days: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places,” these events; such as those on Mount Horeb, were given to herald; to get our attention. We were told of these things in advance that we would be watchful and responsive to His voice; however for those who are not, they will be judged without excuse. O, I pray that the latter will not come to you.

In sum, can you hear God say in a still small voice, ‘Have I got your attention?’