Be Attentive to Voice of God
I Kings 15 begins a pattern that
will extend throughout the rest of
1 and 2 Kings. The writer flip-flops
in his account between the nations
of Israel and Judah. He traces
the parallel stories of two nations
in spiritual decline, taking time
occasionally to highlight a prophet
or a king who contributes greatly
to spirituality of one of the nations.
Today we centre around Elijah the
prophet who courageously faces
a heathen Israelite king and 850
pagan prophets of Baal, only to
flee for his life from Queen Jezebel.
Lord, we’ll Be Alert to Your Voice:
But (Elijah) went a day’s journey
into the wilderness… and sat down
under a… tree. And he prayed that
he might die, and said: It is enough!
Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no
better than fathers! Then as he lay and
slept… suddenly an angel touched him,
& said to him: Arise & eat(1Kgs 19:4-5)
As Elijah stood there, the Lord
passed by and a mighty windstorm
hit the mountain… but the Lord was
not in the wind. After the wind there
was an earthquake, but the Lord
was not in the earthquake…..
And after the fire there was the
sound of a gentle Whisper…
What are you doing here Elijah?
I alone am left and they seek to take
my life… Then the Lord said: Go…
anoint Hazael as king over Syria…
anoint Jehu as king over Israel…
anoint Elisha as prophet in yr place…
Whoever escape sword of Hazael,
Jehu will kill and whoever escapes
the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.
Yet I’ve reserved 7,000 in Israel
who have not bowed to Baal (v11-18)
Lord, after victorious stand against
Baal, Elijah worn in body and brain,
fell prey to fear, fled from wrath
of Jezebel and wanted to die. But
God in Your wisdom denied request.
Along with Moses and Jonah who
presented similar requests, Elijah’s
unanswered prayer reminds us that
we’re not fit for heaven when weary.
Realised loneliness explains Elijah’s
sense of being forsaken. But You God
is ever tender & understanding. Amen
Lord, we note centuries earlier,
that You had spoken to Moses
amid thunder & lightning, a thick
cloud of smoke & a blast of horn.
Now in the very same mountain,
Elijah facing similar phenomena,
yet he hears God’s voice only in
the gentle whisper. Help me to be
attentive to Your voice as You’ve
different ways of dealing with
people at different times. Amen.
Lord, You are sovereign and Your
communication to us is varied and
we can’t focus on particular mode.
Help me to be ready for what You
want to say, however You say it.
Help me Lord to remain Alert to
Your voice in whatever the forms.
Make my spirit to be sensitive
to You at all times: Shout to me,
whisper to me, speak however
You want, for I’m listening. Amen.