God doesn't waste the chaos

This morning I was touched greatly. Early on in the church service, God spoke to me based on something said by a worship leader about listening for the quiet voice. My spirit got busy with the Spirit and I opened my bible to 1 Kings 19. Elijah was hiding out. God said “What are you doing here?” So Elijah explained to God how bad things were. That made me look at how we think about and respond to the Father. God sent him up to a cave and said "I'll be there."

Elijah went in the cave and waited. Now since I was a small child, I've known this scripture. There was a great wind and it was tearing everything up -but God didn't speak to Elijah in the wind. Then there was an earthquake -but God didn't speak to Elijah in the earthquake. Then there was a raging fire to finish off everything that wasn't touched by the first two -but God didn't speak to Elijah in the fire. Then there was a still small voice. The version I read says a quiet whisper. God said "Tell me again Elijah, What are you doing here?"  

Elijah continued the pity party. “I'm the only good guy left. And they want to kill me.” God gave him instructions about the rest of his life -his final earthly acts- and then said “Oh by the way, I still have 7000 people who haven't sold out to idols or forgotten who I am.”

What I've missed in all the years of reciting this passage is that God didn't waste the chaos. He wasn't just putting on a show. When he was finished, Elijah was prepared to listen to the whisper. God knows how to prepare us to hear what we need to know. Those 'big' things in our day, have a much bigger purpose than tossing our world about. They prepare us for the quiet whisper, for the nudge from behind that says “Take that path.” Yeah, God loves us that much!

And then Stan preached on the Holy Spirit!