Author's Note: Everything in Italics is straight out of the Bible; everything else is what I wrote. This passage has always been full of meaning for me personaly, so I decided to spice it up a bit more. Hope you enjoy it and that it helps this scene come alive for you, as it did for me.
The Still, Small Voice
The word of the Lord came to him:
"What are you doing here, Elijah?"
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."
The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."
And so he stood there, bracing himself for whatever would happen, waiting for God to pass by. His heart was pounding in his chest, and thrills of joyful anticipation and fear were coursing through his body. The Lord God Himself was coming!
Suddenly a powerful wind rushed passed, wailing and crying as if all the prophets who had been killed were weeping in anger and sorrow for Israel. It tore apart the mountainside like a pair of terrible, unseen hands. It felt cruel and sharp, like a knife to the skin; cold and hard as the stones it cracked.
And then…it stopped. As abruptly as it began.
But the Lord was not in the wind.
As the last breath of wind brushed past, the earth began to tremble. Just a small tremor at first, but it steadily grew more intense every second, and the rumbling grew louder and louder. The roar of it shook the air; the ground was convulsing as though a thunderstorm were trapped beneath it. It was all Elijah could do to stay on his feet.
And then…it stopped. As abruptly as it began.
But the Lord was not in the earthquake.
No sooner had the earthquake stopped when there came an explosive BOOM and a bright flash of orange. A raging fire instantly appeared, destroying all vegetation in its path, crackling, roaring like an angry lion, and the heat so fierce and intense; it was as if Fury itself had taken shape and become a devouring monster.
And then…it stopped. As abruptly as it began.
But the Lord was not in the fire.
Just then, Elijah heard a small, still Voice, quiet but persistent, softly whispering like wind in the grass or leaves rustling. Faintly murmuring, echoing, it moved with the breeze; it floated by, just out of reach. And with the Voice, he felt a Presence surround him, engulf him, and search him, penetrating into his innermost thoughts. It was gentle, but full of immense power; it was beautiful and terrifying, all at the same time.
And Elijah knew that it was God.
Although our God is great and mighty, He is also small enough to know the number of hairs on our heads. And instead of waiting for burning bushes, bolts of heavenly lightning or other kinds of "signs" to answer our prayers; or arguing with God when we don't like what's happening, sometimes we need to stop for a moment and listen for that small, still Voice inside us, quiet but persistent, reminding us to be still…and know that He is God.
Author's Note: This is one of my favorite moments in the Bible, and you can find it in 1 Kings 19:9-13. So did I do okay? What was your favorite part? Did it encourage you? Teach you? Inspire you? R&R and let me know! Please...?