Gentle Whispers

Gentle Whispers

1 Kings 19:9 – Elijah arrived at a cave and stayed there. All of a sudden this message came from the LORD: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 – “I’ve been very zealous for the LORD God of the Heavenly Armies,” he replied. “The Israelis have abandoned your covenant, demolished your altars, executed your prophets with swords and I – that’s right, just me! – am the only one left. Now they’re seeking my life, to get rid of me!”

verse 11 – “Go out,” he responded, “and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD.” And there was the LORD, passing by! A tremendous, mighty windstorm was tearing at the mountains and breaking the rocks in pieces in the presence of the LORD, but the LORD was not in the windstorm. After the wind there came an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 – After the earthquake there came fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

After the fire of God fell and consumed the burnt offering that Elijah had set up; after the prophets of Baal were executed; after God made the rains return – Elijah received a death threat from Jezebel and in terror he ran for his life. Along the way to Horeb an angel woke Elijah twice so he could eat and gather strength before reaching a cave where he received a message from the Lord: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

It was in this cave that Elijah poured out his heart – feeling that he was the only one left. Twice Elijah said these words before and after God’s presence passed by but was not found in the mighty windstorm, the earthquake or the fire. It was not until the gentle whisper was heard that Elijah received the question a second time “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

God’s final words to Elijah in the cave were these: “Nevertheless, I’ve reserved 7,000 in Israel who have neither bowed their knees to Baal nor kissed him.” – 1 Kings 19:18. In that gentle whisper Elijah was told that he was not the only one left. Where were the others? Obadiah had hidden 100 of them in two caves feeding them secretly. Where were the 6,900 that were left? God knew, just like He knows where you are right now – and that you’re not alone either. He has reserved others in our time who have not bowed their knees to Baal nor kissed him.

We can certainly be troubled by the threats of danger all around us and seek to run and escape for our lives. May the gentle whispers of God calm your heart and assure you that you are not alone. There are others like you who are refusing to bow the knee to the false gods of our time who claim to be responsible for our welfare.

Romans 11:5 says – So it is at the present time: there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 – But if this is by grace, then it is no longer on the basis of actions. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. 7 – What, then, does this mean? It means that Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking but the selected group obtained it while the rest were hardened.

Elijah was assured that there were others. There is assurance that there are others today who have obtained the grace of God. What about you? Where are you right now? Let us decide to follow Jesus knowing that we can be a part of that remnant, reserved by the grace of God for salvation.