Have you ever played hide-and-seek with a toddler? If you haven’t, you are missing out! I always marvel at the fact that when a toddler cannot see you, they assume you cannot see them. On a much larger scale, we adults often assume God is not working if we cannot see evidence of how He has been working. The truth is, however, that He is always working, even if we cannot see it.
Throughout this week, we have studied 1 Kings 19 and learned about a moment in Elijah’s life where he felt utterly alone and needed a reminder that God was working in his life. He had fled to the wilderness after the queen of the Northern Kingdom of Israel had threatened his life. Then, he journeyed to Mount Sinai and spent the night in a cave. God said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (verse 9). Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too” (verses 10-11). Elijah was in the midst of despair, and it is clear he felt utterly alone. In the midst of this despair, God revealed Himself to Elijah. He said to Elijah, “Go out and stand before me on the mountain” (verse 11). What followed next is amazing. “As Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain… but the Lord was not in the wind” (verse 11). Next, an earthquake came, “but the Lord was not in the earthquake,” Scripture tells us (verse 12). Next there was a fire, “but the Lord was not in the fire” (verse 12). Elijah did not see evidence of God in the wind, earthquake, or fire. All of these were big demonstrations where one might expect God to be in. Instead, Scripture reveals that "after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper" and that is where God was (verses 12-13). God was working and present, even though Elijah did not realize it. God revealed a plan for Elijah so that he could move forward and find hope. He appointed a new king for Israel to replace the wicked king Ahab and a new prophet, Elisha, to serve as his assistant and eventually replace him as a prophet. Even when Elijah could not see it, God was working and had a plan (verses 15-18).
We often look for God to respond in extravagant ways, like a windstorm, a bolt of fire, or a thunderstorm. The reality is that He is often in the "gentle whisper," working in ways we do not even realize. He is working in your life even now, even if you cannot see it. Find hope in this truth today. Look for Him in the “gentle whisper” and marvel at His work and goodness in your life.
The only response to the truth that God is always working, even if we cannot see it, is worship. Make plans to worship this weekend at one of our weekend services. As you worship, praise God for how He is working right now in your life, even if you cannot see it. He is good.
10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
15 Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. 16 Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. 17 Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! 18 Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”
19 So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. 20 Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!”
Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.”
21 So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.
