10 June 2022
He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking 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 sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’
From 1 Kings 19:9,11-16, NRSV
Just as other prophets before him, Elijah had found the pressures of his calling too much. At this time, his very life was under threat and so he retreated to a cave far away from the place where he had been called to minister. However, Elijah was unable to escape from God who twice asked him what he was doing in this place. Surrounded by the austere rocky landscape, Elijah was able to concentrate on what God was saying to him. Elijah was commanded to go and stand on the mountain where he would encounter God. After a series of dramatic physical events – a strong wind, an earthquake and a fire, Elijah finally experienced God in the silence that followed. In that silence, Elijah was able to hear and understand God’s will and to return to continue his ministry.
- What can we learn from Elijah’s experience about how God interacts with people?
- What is your experience of hearing God “speak” to you?
Try to set aside some time today to be silent and attentive to what God might be saying to you.
