The account of Elijah hearing the “still, small voice” is in 1 Kings 19. He had enjoyed (he thought) a tremendous “revival” in Israel when he defeated and destroyed the prophets of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel. After that mountaintop victory came a valley of depression, when he convinced himself in a period of apparent self-pity that he was the only faithful Israelite left. The revival was shallow, Ahab and Jezebel were still ruling and they wanted to kill him. Gloom, doom and misery.
I won’t try to stretch this from its historical context to apply it to us. Maybe there are lessons regarding the church and political cultures in America. It’s generally thought that Elijah’s departure might be a “type” of our anticipated deliverance in the rapture. I don’t know. It may not matter.
All the typology aside, there’s a valuable lesson here; in fact, several. First, God is still in control. We probably know this, but we need to believe it. Rock-shattering wind, earthquake, fire – God is not “in” them: He USES them. He is bigger and stronger than they are. Second, God was not at all concerned with Ahab, Jezebel, or their plot against Elijah. Nor is He the least bit concerned about any of the kings, queens, dictators, tyrants and presidents who have come on the scene since then. Like the wind, earthquake and fire, they function only within the limits God allows.
Finally, we need to get past the chaos, noise and distraction, and listen for His still, small voice. He may still have a few things to tell us before we leave. Maybe He will remind us of obvious things. Maybe He will speak to us of the things nearest and dearest to His heart. Maybe He has a word of hope or encouragement for us that only He can speak. Maybe He wants us to tune out the cacophony and distraction of the world and just – for a brief period – give Him our undivided attention; so He can have us all to Himself.
The world is characterized by Bigger! FASTER!! LOUDER!!! In these closing moments, God may have something else in mind for His children. Be still before the Lord – really listen – and He may have a word for you.
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