Be Attentive to God’s Voice (Jul 3)
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:
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 earthquake there was a fire,
but the Lord was not in the fire.
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 Hazard 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(IKgs19:11-18)
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. That shows
that You have different ways of
dealing with people at different
times. In Jesus’ name, 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 want
to say it. Help me to remain Alert
to Your voice in all of its 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.
Lord, I really want to hear from
You more often than ever before.
I am willing to risk failure and
believe that I have heard from You.
Help me discern which whispers
are Yours and which are not Yours.
But let me never be so kiasu and
‘discerning’ that I deny Your voice
along with others. Give me ears
Lord to hear Your voice. Amen.