Look Again

Exodus 3:4-5 (NET) - When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from within the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." God said, "Do not approach any closer! Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."

What an incredible way God revealed His presence to Moses.

Imagine God speaking audibly to you from a burning bush and then warning you not to come any closer.

Such a display would certainly make a lasting impression.

God also chose an impressive display to make himself known to his chosen people.

Exodus 19:17-18 (NET) - Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their place at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely covered with smoke because the LORD descended on it in fire, and its smoke rose up like the smoke of a great furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently.

Imagine that powerful display as your introduction to God.

That would also leave quite a memorable impression.

Does God always make His presence known in displays that overwhelm the senses?

Not always.

Elijah, who was hiding in a cave, experienced God’s presence in a completely different way.

1 Kings 19:11 (NET) - The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Look the LORD is ready to pass by," A very powerful wind went before the LORD, digging into the mountain and causing landslides, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

Imagine yourself in Elijah’s place.

You experience not just wind but a wind powerful enough to dig into the very mountain itself.

Then come the landslides where perhaps tons of material mere feet away suddenly break loose and accelerate down the mountain and disappear from view.

After that there is an earthquake that completely shakes what remains of the mountain.

Almost surprisingly, God was not present in any of these.

1 Kings 19:12 (NET) - After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper.

Elijah then experienced fire on top of all the other events he witnessed.

Yet, God was not in the fire either.

There was one more experience in store for Elijah after the fire.

It was nothing at all like anything he had experienced thus far.

By comparison, it may have seemed like almost nothing.

It was a barely audible soft whisper.

But, there was something remarkable about it.

God was in that whisper.

1 Kings 19:13 (NET) - When Elijah heard it. He covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. All of a sudden a voice asked him, "Why are you here, Elijah?"

God can make His presence known to us in ways that to us are powerful.

God can also make His presence known to us in ways that are quite subtle by comparison.

Even in something as subtle as a whisper.

Do you sense God at work in your life?

If not, consider changing your perspective.

Think about the subtle ways God may be at work in your life.

You might be surprised by what you see.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 16, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, March 23, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.