And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-12)
Elijah thought he was all alone in service to God. He looked for the Lord God in all places, but found him in that "still small voice". What he didn't realize was that he was not alone, there were thousands who had not bowed to Baal and kept the commandments of the Lord. Elijah chose to work alone. He paid the price for that with isolation and loneliness. How many of us "choose" to work alone when it comes to serving the Lord? Elijah was the most famous and dramatic of Israel's prophets. He predicted (through the power of God) the beginning and the end of a three-year drought. God used him to bring a son that was dead back to life for the child's mother. He stood for God and was victorious over the priests and false gods of Baal and Asherah. Elijah appeared with Moses and Jesus in Jesus' transfiguration.
How often do we feel we are alone in our witnessing? How often do we think we are fighting a losing battle when it comes to some of the people we feel compelled to witness to? How often do we wait for the "sign" from God that tells us we've done enough? As with both Elijah and Moses, God will provide the words and the revelations we need to witness. Truly our strength for that comes from He who created us. Many times we listen for the sound of seventy-six trombones and hear only a piccolo.
What we learn from Elijah is that we are never closer to defeat than in our moments of greatest victory. We know that we are never alone, no matter how isolated and withdrawn we feel we are because God is always with us. And as with Elijah, sometimes God speaks to us in quiet whispers as opposed to thunderous shouts. Listen for God to whisper to you!
