Devotional Reading of the Word Part 1

A fascinating story tells of a human encounter with God. A holy man had been preaching in his community for a very long time – he had no church, he had no friends or support group around him in the community or anywhere; he was alone. No one seemed to be responding to his message of repentance so, after years of ministry to the vacant he grew despondent, suspicious, isolated, and somewhat self-righteous.

I don’t know if you can imagine being called by God to this kind of ministry. I don’t know if you can imagine the pressure of finding a small group of people and horning your way into the conversation so you can share the message God has given you. This man spoke against the unrighteousness of his governmental leaders, he spoke against the growing pluralism, the worship of sexual immorality… He took every opportunity to speak to his community about the judgment of God. He finally grew so anxious and depressed that he retreated to the wilderness to live by himself.

Most of us immediately think, “It’s no wonder no one would listen to him; all he does is preach against people. Where is grace? Where is the good news the kingdom of God brings?”

In the wilderness, the preacher found a crevasse which he made his new home. He was alone with his thoughts when God spoke to him again. God told him that, soon, he would appear in person to the preacher and he should wait there for that. A windstorm storm swept through the region and the preacher wondered if God was still with him. An earthquake shook the ground, the mountains, and the preacher’s sense that he might recognize God when he would come; he had not been in the powerful wind or the earth shattering quake. Before life could settle into normalcy a fire tore through the area and burned up everything leaving behind only desolation, but once again, God was missing.

The preacher looked around at the devastation and thought, “If only God had used these to get the attention of those people I have spent so much time preaching to. That would get them to change. Doesn’t he want them to hear his message of repentance?” But while he was thinking these thoughts, he began to ponder those ideas – Where was God during the storm, during the quake, during the fire? In that very moment he heard something new – soft and gentle – it was the voice of God, speaking once more to him. He could barely discern it at first, but as he strained to listen, it got clearer – not louder, but clearer.

The voice of God spoke to him in this soft whisper and said, “Why are you here, in the wilderness, alone? Didn’t I send you to preach repentance to the people?”

The preacher answered, “Well, yes, but no one listened. They hated me and they despised you. They vandalized every place that was once devoted to your worship; they arrested and lynched anyone who spoke well of you. I am afraid, I am angry, I am alone…What do you want from me? I have done all I can do.”

Perhaps you recognize this as the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. At this point, God gave Elijah a disciple who could take over his ministry, he told Elijah that there are many other believers he has kept safe and he brought Elijah to himself.

But what you should notice is how important the still, small, whisper of God is to this story. While Elijah wants God to show himself in some obvious and powerful experience, God wants people to take the time to pay attention. Like Elijah, it is when they are still, quiet, listening that they could hear God and not until then.