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…not in the earthquake…not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. …“What are you doing here, Elijah?”

1 Kings 19:11-13

Yes, Elijah’s greatest fear may have been of being the only one of God’s prophets left, alone and without help. However, God had a much more penetrating question of His prophet. Not once but twice He asked: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (19:9,13). Incredible, isn’t it, that the LORD‘s charge to Elijah should occur on that very same mountain where He had spoken to Moses in the burning bush and given him the Law (Exodus 3:1-3;19:9,16)?       

God’s question of Elijah was up close and personal, in a gentle whisper—not in the wind, the earthquake, nor the fire. Elijah had been positive the fire on Mt. Carmel was the ticket to revival. Not so—the battle is not always won in the fire. How easily we miss the big plan of God: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD (Isaiah 55:8). 

Seems to me my 2021 was a bust ladies, but who am I to say? Where are you God? What are you doing? Are you pulling that cousin, who asked about end-of-life things when my brother died this summer, to the sound of your gentle whisper? Will my nephews and their kids read the book on Heaven I sent them? What new treatment for metastatic melanoma do you have in the works for my husband? 

Am I listening to you, urging me on to be intentional with my story with you? Are there people who follow me, like Elisha followed Elijah, as I follow you (2 Timothy 2:2)? Do they see you, Jesus? Above all, do I live to absolutely enjoy you and bring you glory? (Westminster Shorter Catechism, #1). 

“Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief.” —Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, November 13.

Sometimes we tune in to the wind, sometimes to the earthquake, sometimes to the fire. May we always listen for the whisper.

Nancy P

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV 1973,1978,1984, unless otherwise noted.