The Deafening Noise - Encouragement Café - November 9, 2015

The Deafening Noise

Café Menu for Monday, November 9, 2015

Today’s Special is:  Hearing That Still, Small Voice

Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Joan Walker Hahn

Main Ingredient:

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.

1 Kings 19:11-12 NKJV

Entrée:

Elijah was a great prophet of God.  In 1 Kings 18, he had a showdown with Ahab, the king of Israel, and 450 prophets of the false god, Baal.  Elijah told the people he would prove that the Lord God was the only God by setting up two altars.  On one altar, the prophets of Baal prepared a sacrifice and would call on the name of their god to rain down fire to consume the sacrifice.  Elijah would do the same and the God that answered with fire would be the one true God.

The prophets of Baal began crying out aloud to their god.  For hours and hours they cried out, even cutting themselves, in hopes that their god would answer.  Can you imagine the deafening noise of 450 men crying out for hours?  In the end, of course, it was the Lord God who answered with fire, consuming the sacrifice Elijah prepared.

After killing all of the false prophets though, Elijah was threatened and ran for his life.  I imagine the noise was still ringing in his ears as he sought escape from all the turmoil he felt.  God sent an angel to minister to his needs.  After Elijah had eaten and rested, he traveled for 40 days and nights.  Then God made His presence known to Elijah. 

God sent strong winds that tore mountains and broke rocks.  Then an earthquake and fire.  Envision the roar of the wind that was strong enough to break the mountains and the groaning of the earth from the earthquake.  The turbulence of the air from the crackling of fire. 

The tumult may have mirrored all of Elijah’s emotions.  It wasn’t until all of that had passed that God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice.

As God questioned Elijah, he poured his heart out to God, explaining why he had ran.  But then immediately, God gave Elijah instructions of what to do next.

Sometimes the noise and chaos around us gets to be more than we can take.  We may become overwhelmed like Elijah did.  In those moments, we need to get alone with God. 

We need to know, though, that God may not answer us right away.  He may allow us a time to be refreshed before giving us instructions of what to do next.  It may take time to hear Him as we pour our hearts out to Him. 

In the midst of the noise, we need to keep trusting.  The storms may come, but if we will faithfully keep listening, we will soon hear the still, small voice of God.

Take Out:

When the world gets too noisy, it can cause us to feel defeated and want to run away.  But God can refresh us as we get alone with Him.  He will meet our needs and allow us to pour our hearts out to Him.  Take time to listen for God’s Voice.

For further study, read 1 Kings 18 and 19.

Dessert:

Heavenly Father, sometimes I let the noise and chaos around me consume my attention.  Help me when I feel overwhelmed and want to run away.  Thank You that You can offer me refreshment in my spirit when I get alone with You.  And when the storms around me roar, help me remember Your Presence is still near.  Help me hear Your Voice and be ready to go wherever You need me to go.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

© 2015 by Joan Walker Hahn.  All rights reserved.

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