“The Lord said (to Elijah), “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by. Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” – 1 Kings 19:11-12 NIV
Have you ever seen a tornado? They are fascinating and terrifying at the same time. People actually make a career of chasing after tornados just to catch a glimpse of their power. I have never been in a tornado, but I have experienced plenty of storms, including the storm that ripped the garage off my parents’ house. I have also been in a forest fire, fleeing for hours through scorching heat until finally being rescued. I haven’t been in an earthquake, but I can imagine it would be the same mix of awe and dread.
In ancient Israel, the pagans experienced these same frightening natural phenomena and attributed them to a god named Baal. Baal was the god of the storm, revealing himself in wind, lightening, and earth-shaking claps of thunder. Baal was a god all about making big impressions.
Elijah experienced all these events, but the bible specifically points out that God was not in the wind and the fire. God was not in the storm. Instead, God came to him as a gentle whisper. Other translations describe it as “a still small voice”, or “the sound of gentle blowing“, even “the sound of sheer silence.” The noise and the show and the terror are not where we find God. God is found in the gentle whisper we hear when we are still enough to listen.
Soon we will be in the heart of tornado season with plenty of opportunities to see storms in all their awesomeness. But if you really want to experience awe don’t go chasing after tornados. Chase after the still small voice that calls you. Listen to the gentle whisper that God speaks to your heart. “Be still and know that I am God” as it says in Psalm 46:10.
Stay safe,
Pastor Mark