The Small Voice
May 9, 2005 • By Ed Wrather
05.09.05
Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" - 1 Kings 19:11-13 NKJV.
One summer years ago, I was working in the oilfield rolling, cleaning and inspecting drill pipe, tubing, and casing. It was a very hot summer, made even hotter by the heat radiating off the metal pipe. During this time period, I was alone while working much of the time for some reason. It was hard, backbreaking work and the days seemed to stretch on and on into infinity. Every day seemed to be the same as the day before. It was during those days, that I began asking God when it would end. I knew that He had something else for me, but how would I get from there to here (where I am now)? When would it change? What do you really want with my life?
It was during those days of isolation, silence, monotony, the ordinary, that I heard God call my name. What did God say? He said, "Eddy." I thought I was by myself, and so I looked around to see who was there, but there was no one there but me. I thought I was just imagining things, and went back to work, and then the voice came again, "Eddy." I knew Whom it was then. Did God say anything else? No. He simply called my name, and it was enough to know that He had not forgotten about me. It was enough to know that He knew exactly where I was, and what I was doing.
Do your days seem to stretch forever the same into eternity? Do you wish for a change? Do you wonder if God even cares, or if He even knows where you are, or what you are doing? In these days of quietness, in these days of the ordinary; these are the days that God calls your name. Yes, God can speak through the thunder, or the fire, or the earthquake, but so many times, it is in the still small voice that He speaks. Are you listening? He may only call your name, but it will be enough.
Elijah listened, and waited for God to speak through the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. God did not speak through those things. Instead, God spoke in a "still small voice." Why did God speak? Because, He had more for Elijah to do. The work of Elijah was not yet finished.
Why would God speak to you? He will speak to you as He did to Elijah, in His still, small voice; if He has something for you to do. Does God have something for you to do? We are God’s fellow workers, co-laborers (1 Corinthians 3:9), and we are Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Are you listening?
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