Here’s a little context for today’s Hebrew Bible reading:
Elijah is on the run because he had killed all of King Ahab’s false prophets, and
Ahab wanted him dead. An angel fed him as he spent 40 days and nights
travelling through the wilderness. Eventually, he found a cave and spent the
night there. This is where he gets his next instructions from God.
After the Fire
The past three years have seen apocalyptic wildfires in the Pacific
Northwest and northern California. We have watched with horror as fires
consumed entire neighborhoods and even towns – displaced thousands of
people and millions of wild animals, and left many dead.
This year is no exception. As of this past week, authorities reported more
than 14-hundred-50 active fires. So we pray for those who have lost
homes, businesses, churches, schools – who have fled their homes, not
knowing when they can return – and especially for those who have lost
loved ones.
It was not long after last year’s fires that signs of life started springing up –
tiny wildflowers, some grasses, seedlings that will some day grow into big
trees. Some animals also returned.
God sometimes reveals Himself in dramatic displays of power, but God is
equally present in a quiet, gentle presence that meets us in whatever storm
we find ourselves.
Elijah just had his greatest victory on Mount Carmel, where God accepted
his sacrifice in a showdown with the prophets of Baal. After the fire fell from
heaven onto his sacrifice – he had the pagan prophets slaughtered. But he
knew that he was now the target of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel’s rage.
He fled into the wilderness. Eventually, he came to a tree – which he sat
under for shade – and asked God to take his life. Elijah was facing his own
fire now.
But God had other plans. He told Elijah to go up the mountain – where the
presence of God would pass by him. Ferocious wind shattered the rocks on
the mountain – but God was not in the wind. An earthquake followed –
but God was not in the earthquake. Then fire came on the mountain –
but God was not in the fire.
After the fire Elijah finally experience the most powerful – and mysterious –
evidence of God’s presence: a gentle whisper.
Does anybody remember the TV commercials for Nuance perfume in the
late 1970s? What was the memorable line?
“If you want someone’s attention, whisper.”
God really got Elijah’s attention when God whispered. Elijah pulled his
cloak over his face and went to the entrance to the cave, where God gave
Elijah his assignments:
He was to go back to anoint new kings for Aram and Israel, and anoint
Elisha as his own successor as God’s prophet. The new kings were to kill
those who worshipped Baal – but God told Elijah that there were 7,000
Israelites who had not worshipped Baal. They were the remnant from which
God would rebuild His faithful people. After the fire – so to speak.
Like Elijah – Jesus’s disciples had just gotten a big faith boost from a
display of God’s power. They had watched Jesus feed some 5,000 men –
plus their wives and children – with just five loaves of bread and two fish.
But their faith would be right after the scraps were gathered into baskets.
Jesus had them get into a boat and sail to the other side of the Sea of
Galilee. He was planning to do ministry there – and they were the advance
team – making all the practical arrangements. Meanwhile – Jesus went up
a mountain to pray.
After night fell, a storm kicked up and the disciples struggled to keep the
boat moving forward. Like Elijah, they were running on empty & were
scared.
Sometime between four and six in the morning – Jesus walked out to them
on the water. Their reaction was similar to that of the humans in “Caspar
the Friendly Ghost” cartoons: “It’s a g-g-g-g-ghost!”
Jesus reassured them. But Peter wasn’t so sure.
“If it’s You, Lord – tell me to walk to You on the water.”
Jesus didn’t argue – even though He knew what was going to happen.
“Come,” He said to Peter.
Peter – the one who usually acted before he thought something through -
got out of the boat and started walking toward Jesus. When he realized that
wasn’t possible – in other words, when rational thought trumped faith –
he started to sink and begged Jesus to save him. Of course, Jesus grabbed
his hand and took him back to the boat.
At that point, all the disciples could do was worship Jesus.
Elijah expected Mount Carmel to end Israel’s love affair with idols overnight;
instead, Jezebel tried to kill him. He fled into the desert – where God
provided food by way of carrier ravens – and water from a stream.
The disciples expected smooth sailing with Jesus; instead, He sent them
directly into a potentially deadly storm while He went up the mountain to
pray. But He came to them during the storm and calmed it.
We can go through incredibly challenging and difficult times – even though
we are followers of Jesus Christ. But His first disciples went through that
storm – and saw God’s power. Elijah had to hide out in an arid wasteland to
escape Jezebel’s soldiers. But God provided food and water. Not great
accommodations – but what he needed to survive.
My dad went though horrible conflict with one of his churches in western
Pennsylvania – but God led him to the Kirkwood Church – where he was
able to serve with joy until his retirement.
Elijah saw a great wind smashing big rocks, an earthquake shaking the
ground beneath his feet, and a fire blazing – but the Lord was not in the
wind, earthquake, or fire. God does not have a special effects team to show
us flashy, overwhelming displays of power.
Rather – God usually speaks to us in a gentle whisper – that we hear in our
hearts or minds. Sometimes God speaks to us in the silence. And God can
also speak to us in the storms – when He tells us "Take courage! It is I.
Don't be afraid."
As someone who gets anxious when it’s too quiet – I can tell you that we
need to cultivate quiet space so that we can hear God's gentle whisper.
And we need to keep our eyes on Him in our storms. We should focus on
knowing that Jesus is with us – and not the height of the waves coming at
us.
May we open ourselves to God's grace, accept His encouragement, and
step back out into the mission He has called us to. Amen.
Closing Prayer:
Sustaining God, we hear the wind howling around us, and see the fires of
conflict everywhere. Grant us peace, so we can hear Your gentle whisper.
When we fear we will sink beneath the weight of fear and obligations, reach
out Your hand and lift us up. Call us out of our caves and fill us with
renewed hope and purpose. Amen.