another encounter with God's subtlety
Pastor Robert Billingslea, community group pastor at New Braunfels Bible Church, ponders the success of getting our way with God.
The saying goes, “Desperate times require desperate measures.” I wonder if God always agrees. Yes, there are plenty of times where He responds to desperate times in big, bold ways. But the more I search the pages of His Word the more I’m convinced that He is equally apt to respond to desperate times in small, subtle ways. Take Elijah as an example.
I Kings 18 records Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel and the miracles that followed God’s overwhelming victory. From that mountain top experience we follow Elijah into a deep spiritual valley in I Kings 19. By the time we get to 19:4 the valley is so deep he invites God to take his life. This guy is tapped out. He is a man of God. His spiritual roots run deep and… he is at the end of his frayed rope. Can you identify with Elijah? I can!
These are desperate times for Elijah. At this point one might expect some grand form of deliverance and subsequent victory, instead the Angel of the Lord feeds Elijah bread and water. Bread and water!? Elijah isn’t lifted from the valley. He is simply sustained in the valley and in the strength of that food Elijah continues his journey southward to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Now perhaps God will respond to His tapped out soldier with a little flash and bang. Perhaps He will demonstrate His incredible power. Perhaps more fire from heaven? Perhaps another jolt of physical strength like the one in 18:46 that enabled Elijah to outrun Ahab’s chariot to the town of Jezreel, a distance of at least 30 miles. If it were up to me I would invoke the creed, “Desperate times require desperate measures!” Take a moment to read I Kings 19:9-13.
It’s almost like God is featuring His ability to be subtle. He does the flash and bang of the tornado, earthquake and fire but does not speak to Elijah in them. “The Lord was not in the wind… not in the earthquake… not in the fire.” Then there is the sound of a gentle blowing and God speaks to Elijah. In comparison to the tornado, the earthquake, and the fire the gentle blowing seems like a whisper to me. This thought takes a moment for me to digest. “God whispers to Elijah at a time when Elijah’s circumstances are screaming in his ears?” Goodness gracious, He whispers!
On the one hand I’m confronted with God’s choice to act in such a subtle fashion. He is, once again, my subtle Shepherd not just the Shepherd of shock and awe. My expectations for God’s personal involvement in my life become better educated. My radar for His work in my life is better tuned. I’m a little more comfortable with the quiet, knowing His ways can also be quiet.
On the other hand I’m challenged concerning my response to His subtlety in my circumstances. Is God’s whisper enough for me in the deepest of valleys? Honestly, I have had times when I have refused his quiet answer. Almost kicking and screaming, I’ve tried to get God to save me on my terms.
I remember trying this on my mom one day in the hall. I was a little kid who wasn’t getting what he wanted. I’d heard about the potential effectiveness of throwing a fit from other kids. That day I decided it was time to play hardball with my mom. Down to the floor I went kicking and screaming like the best of them. My mom didn’t even acknowledge me! She actually stepped over me as she went on with the business of her day. (By the way, my mom reads this blog… Way to go Mom! Thank you, thank you, thank you!) Pitching a fit didn’t work with her and I’ve found my arsenal of “fits” don’t work with God. Others have found the same… think about our friend Job or even Jonah, the reluctant missionary.
So my Shepherd is subtle, able to be personally involved without dominating the stage. Will I cooperate when He operates quietly? I walk away encouraged to let Him come to me on His terms, and then trust that His terms are best in the moment.