Unexpected

There is a story in the book of 1 Kings (19:9-16) about the prophet Elijah. Elijah has just confronted King Ahab, and he is running for his life… He is worn out and he feels alone. And it is here, while sleeping in a cave, that God meets him.

The scripture tells us that as Elijah steps outside the cave, there is a violent wind that splits the mountains, but God was not in the wind… Then there was a great earthquake, but again, God was not in the earthquake. And next, there was a fire, but God was not in the fire…

What’s so interesting is that these are all ways that God had shown up in the past in the history of Israel. In fact, when God met Moses on this very same mountain – Mount Sinai – to receive the ten commandments, the book of Exodus tells us, there was fire on the mountain, thunder and lightning and the mountain shook violently as God spoke. Then, when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, God appeared to them as a pillar of cloud by day, and fire by night… In Psalm 18 when God appears, the mountains tremble, and there is a wind storm. We see this also in Habakuk and Judges and other psalms…

Elijah was steeped in these stories.

But here this author tells us – this time, God was not in the great wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire… This time, God shows up in the sound of sheer silence.

It is almost as if the author is making the point, don’t be so sure you know how or when God is going to show up in the world. Don’t be so sure you know how or when God is going to show up in your life. Don’t limit your expectations…

I think about Elijah again in the cave, feeling alone and afraid, and God coming to him in a completely new and unexpected way. And I wonder where, and when, and how you expect God to show up in your life.

Let us pray: Holy God, grant us expecting spirits. And open too our eyes, our hearts, and all our senses, that we might notice your presence even amid our everyday lives. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.