“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. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave” (I Kings 19:12-13).
After being in New York City for a short time, I came to appreciate the Messianic believers who live there, who seek to walk in the ways of the Father, and bring a word of hope in the darkness. It takes a special person with ‘ears to hear’ His gentle whisper in the midst of the rumbling of the subway trains, honking taxis, exhaling bus engine brakes or just the constant hustle of the people on the pavements.
Finding a quiet spot in a park, by the river or even in one’s own home is nearly impossible as there are still the muffled city sounds of fire sirens and the pulsations of woofers in passing cars. I’m sure that when the Spirit does come as a gentle whisper –– a cooling breeze from the river, the sweet aroma from flowers in a garden, the light spray of water from a fountain or even a few minutes fellowship in a coincidental meeting on the street –– there are some who recognize the voice of the Lord, sigh and remember: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
In those moments, His ‘still small voice’ comes in bits and pieces between the deafening sounds of the world, but there is an even greater oasis of spiritual refreshment. Just as our Creator rested from His work of creating, those who desire deeper fellowship can enter the Sabbath and receive a weekly taste of what was once in Eden and will be restored in Eternity. On the Sabbath, the cooling breeze of the Father’s ‘breath,’ the sweet sound of His Word, the light spray of His Living Water, brings genuine rest and refreshment preparing His people to re-enter the world of earthquakes, fire, and whirlwinds.
©June 2011 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved. No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.