1 Kings 19:9b-21

            {Prayer}

            Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or just someone asking a question, you expect a clear, concise, and confident answer. You don’t want to hear “I don’t know.” You don’t want a mumble or a whisper. You want a clear, concise, and confident answer.

            As individuals, we expect the same from God. We expect God to show up in big and unmistakable ways. When life unravels, whether it’s physically, spiritually, or emotionally … we pray for a dramatic rescue. We want a clear sign, a powerful fix, a divine interruption that shakes our very foundation.

            Elijah had every reason to expect this because before he ran away from the deadly threat of the amazingly sweet Jezebel, Elijah had seen God’s power as fire rain down from the heavens on Mount Carmel. But now, having run through a desert, Elijah is in this cave. He’s all alone and running for his life. Needless to say, Elijah is exhausted.

            God see Elijah in this cave and says, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9b). Elijah is like, “Listen LORD … I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too” (19:10).

            Elijah lists out his complaints to God and is expecting something in return. Some sort of message that is clear, concise, and confident.

            So, the LORD says, “Okay Elijah, you want Me to give you answer … Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by” (19:11).

            A great and powerful wind tore through the mountain. This was the kind of wind that blew and parted the waters of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21). This was the kind of wind that violently blew on the day of Pentecost that caused the people to come together where the disciples were staying (Acts 2:2). This wind would be the powerful presence of God. But … the LORD was not in the wind (1 Kings 19:11b).

            After the wind there was an earthquake (19:11b). The ground under Elijah’s feet shook like it did when God made His presence known on the top of Mount Sinai when He met with Moses and gave the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:20). The ground shook like it did on Good Friday when Jesus breathed His final breath and gave up His Spirit. We’re told in Matthew’s gospel that after Jesus breathed his last and gave up His Spirit that the earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open (27:51). Earthquakes symbolize upheaval and God’s judgment, but … the LORD was not in the earthquake (1 Kings 19:11b).

            After the earthquake came a fire (19:12). A fire like that from Mount Carmel that consumed the sacrifice and altar Elijah had built for the LORD to prove that the LORD God Almighty is the one true and only God (1 Kings 18:16-46). But again … the LORD was not in the fire (1 Kings 19:12).

            Wind, earthquake, and fire! Powerful and destructive signs of the LORD. Clear, concise, and confident signs of the LORD … and yet … He’s in none of them. What gives?

            And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave (19:12b-13). A gentle whisper, a low whisper, or a better translation, after the fire came a voice, a gentlewhisper.

            Elijah heard the voice of the LORD. Upon hearing the voice, he pulls the cloak over his face and goes out of the cave. He pulls the cloak over his face because no one can see God and live.

            Standing in the mouth of the cave, “a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (1 Kings 19:13b). It’s the same question as before. But instead of coming from the wind, earthquake or fire … it came through the gentle whisper, the gentle voice of God. And that makes all the difference.

            In this gentle voice, God shows His powerful weakness. He doesn’t overwhelm Elijah. He meets Elijah right where he is, exhausted, worn out, fearful, and all alone. God meets Elijah, not with a display of might and power, but with His presence. Not with punishment, but with His presence. This is the paradox … the Almighty God chooses to come near not in violent winds, powerful earthquakes, or blazing fire, but in stillness. And maybe this is what Elijah, and what we need all along.

            We like clear, concise, and confident answers. We like to know what is going to happen next. We like to know to do this but don’t do that. Buy this but don’t buy that. Do this procedure but don’t do that one. We expect God to show up in big and unmistakable ways. When the burdens weigh heavy on our bodies, minds or souls … we pray for a dramatic rescue. We want a clear sign, a powerful fix, a divine interruption that shakes our very foundation.

            But God doesn’t always work like that. God doesn’t always overpower us to get our attention. He comes close, He speaks gently, He says, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). He says through Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). In our weakness, our fear, burnout, or loss … God doesn’t automatically fix everything. But one thing is for sure … He is still with you. He is still present. God’s whisper … it’s not less powerful … it’s more personal.

            And we see this portrayed in the person of Jesus. Jesus didn’t come into our world riding in on a white horse with trumpets blaring, with loud claps of thunder and bright bolts of lightning. Instead, He is born in a messy manger in the shadows of a powerful king in the little town of Bethlehem.

            Jesus didn’t rule with legions of armies, but He did ride into Jerusalem victoriously with palm branches and shouts of the people, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!” (John 12:13). But instead of that majestic white horse, Jesus rode in on a donkey.

            While Jesus tells Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane as He is being betrayed that if He wanted, Jesus could call upon His Father and have more than twelve legions of angels ready to fight … Jesus doesn’t make that request in order that the Scriptures would be fulfilled (Matthew 26: 53-54). Likewise, Jesus tells Pilate that if His kingdom was of this world, Jesus’ servants would fight to prevent his arrest (John 18:36). But Jesus doesn’t defeat evil with an army of angels or with swords but with a cross. Paul says in Romans 5 that, “At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. … God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (5:6, 8).

            Jesus emptied Himself of His divine status and power and taking on the form of a servant, becoming a human being, died on the cross so that you are forgiven. Jesus rose from the dead boldly and loudly, with a clear, concise, and confident resolution that bonds of death have been broken, Satan has been defeated, and you have the sure and certain promise of eternal life in the new heavens and new earth yet to come.

            Just as God met Elijah not with spectacle but with a whisper, just as Jesus came not with a sword but a cross … God meets us today in ways that the world might call weak. Yet these are the very places where His grace is the strongest.

            God’s power is found in the whisper of His Word to a friend, a family member, to the person lying in the hospital bed, at a nursing home, or who is near the end of their earthly life. In the stillness of His Word, in the stillness of prayer, God listens and responds.

            God’s power is found in the water of the font where by God’s Word, you are washed of your sins, drowned of your sinful nature and brought forth as a redeemed child of God.

            God’s power is found in the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper. By God’s all-powerful Word, you receive in, with, and under this bread and wine the very body and blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and the strengthening of your faith. “This is given and shed for you!”

            When the world shouts, the Church listens to the still small voice of grace. God’s powerful weakness continues to speak and save through you and me.

            Like Elijah … we may hide in the caves of fear, burnout, loneliness, and just being unsure of ourselves. But remember, God is not far off. He who whispered to Elijah … He is whispering still. In His Word, in the font, in His Supper, in His promise … He comes close. His powerful weakness is not less … it’s more. More intimate. More enduring. More than enough. Amen.

            The peace of God, that surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, now and forever. Amen.