1 Kings 19
11 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. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
My daughter has recently been declaring that “God is not a man.” She does it fairly randomly, just about any time the word God comes up. In our house His name comes up quite often.
Just last night we shared a meal with a new friend who was so clearly after God’s own heart. At some point in the conversation my daughter announced quite boldly, “God is not a man!” How profound.
God made us in His image, but it does not mean we are Him. So many religions and cults have hooked into this human desire and tempted the ego by claiming that very thing. That God is just like us… what a lie!
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
I have been so incredibly convicted lately that I cannot treat God like some man. He doesn’t make mistakes, I can’t hide anything from Him, and He NEVER FAILS. It dawned on me in the last few months that I disappoint God in so many ways because of my lack of reverence. I ask Him to perform for me: “God, just give me a sign.” I try to manipulate Him: “show me Your wonders, then I will do anything you want.”
If God were a man, I could coerce Him with gifts. If I say out loud in front of a few people “just let me win the lottery and I’ll give it all away, I’ll help the poor and the sick.” Perhaps I can get Him to give up some of that loot.
The LORD is in the whisper! … WOW. When I try to determine what would please God I realize He has made it clear. From Old Testament to New the bible could not have been written without the word “faith”. Without which it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God (Hebrews 11:6). So if faith is so crucial what then is our duty? … Am I going to tell you anything you haven’t already heard before?
When was the last time you apologized in prayer to the LORD who is in the whisper for wanting Him to be the earthquake? When was the last time God gave you a glimpse of Himself and you said to Him, “My LORD, I am so sorry that my faith was so weak that you had to give me a glimpse.” Have you? I realize I’ve crossed a line. Some of you would even say I’m wrong. What’s wrong, after-all, with God showing us things? … I believe it destroys a portion of the only gift we can give God, FAITH. Because of that, I know for sure, that God will take much care and only show His wonders when faith will be increased instead of decreased. Remember faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1) So once you see… faith becomes moot. I know how this goes, if you already decided I was wrong no amount of scripture is going to convince you is it? Well I must try…
Matthew 12:39
He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
My hope for you, and me, is that we will please God. I believe that Jesus told the truth when He said “anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing” (John 14:12).
Our new friend told a story about a street person that asked her, “What do I do in the middle of the night when the gods grab me by the throat and start choking me?” She said; “Say the name of Jesus.” That person soon came back and thanked her for her advice. Proclaiming, “it worked!” She says, she has never been choked by a demon. She has never seen a manifestation beyond the face of the person in torment. Yet when she tells the demons to leave, they just leave.
I say to anyone in her boat, REJOICE! God is greatly pleased with your great faith!!! He knows your heart, He knows your faith, and He knows you don’t need any signs and wonders…”blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” John 20:29.
I’m sorry my Lord & my God for all of the times my faith has been so weak that you gave me a glimpse of You to keep me encouraged. I pray that one day my faith would be such that seeing your hand write on my wall would be no different than seeing the sun rise in the morning. You are the One True and Living God. As the sun rises in the sky I stand in awe of Your wonders!