The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." 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... - 1 Kings 19:11-13
A touch of grace, at once lovely and mysterious, stirred within my heart when I read this passage.
There is a deep, profound beauty, an awesome epiphany (theophany?) in the way God showed Himself to Elijah. He did not choose an awe-inspiring form, nor a terrifying one; instead He came in gentleness.
He was not in the 'great and powerful wind', not in His glorious splendour, but He showed Himself to Elijah the way He knew Elijah needed to see Him - a gentle, loving, comforting God.
In the preceding verses, Elijah was dispirited because his work seemed to be in vain. The circumstances in which he found himself were "hopeless".
God reminded Elijah through an awesome display of elemental forces that He was, and always will be, in control - the wind, the earthquake, the fire were an affirmation that God is mighty and powerful. And yet, though He is able to do all the great things, ultimately, the greatest of His attributes is love.
Above all, He comforted Elijah when he was weary; He strengthened Elijah, refreshed him once more. He was there when Elijah needed Him.
That He is so is such a blessing to humanity, and a cause for great thankfulness.
Who would want to worship a powerful but indifferent god, who might be able to grant your wishes and fulfill your prayers but not love you? What we want is not always what's best for us, and only a cruel being would fulfill our wishes knowing that they would be harmful to us.
A touch of grace, at once lovely and mysterious, stirred within my heart when I read this passage.
There is a deep, profound beauty, an awesome epiphany (theophany?) in the way God showed Himself to Elijah. He did not choose an awe-inspiring form, nor a terrifying one; instead He came in gentleness.
He was not in the 'great and powerful wind', not in His glorious splendour, but He showed Himself to Elijah the way He knew Elijah needed to see Him - a gentle, loving, comforting God.
In the preceding verses, Elijah was dispirited because his work seemed to be in vain. The circumstances in which he found himself were "hopeless".
God reminded Elijah through an awesome display of elemental forces that He was, and always will be, in control - the wind, the earthquake, the fire were an affirmation that God is mighty and powerful. And yet, though He is able to do all the great things, ultimately, the greatest of His attributes is love.
Above all, He comforted Elijah when he was weary; He strengthened Elijah, refreshed him once more. He was there when Elijah needed Him.
That He is so is such a blessing to humanity, and a cause for great thankfulness.
Who would want to worship a powerful but indifferent god, who might be able to grant your wishes and fulfill your prayers but not love you? What we want is not always what's best for us, and only a cruel being would fulfill our wishes knowing that they would be harmful to us.
posted by sleepypurplepiglet at 2:32 PM
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