Quote from Forum Archives on May 9, 2005, 6:29 pm

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

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The Burning Bush Devotional

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05.09.05

The Small Voice

Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And
behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the
mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was
not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in
the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the
fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard
it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the
entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you
doing here, Elijah?" - 1 Kings 19:11-13.

One summer years ago, I was working in the oilfield rolling, cleaning and
inspecting drill pipe, tubing, and casing. It was a very hot summer made
even hotter by the heat radiating off the metal pipe. During this time
period for some reason I was working alone much of the time. It was hard,
backbreaking work and the days seemed to stretch on and on into infinity.
Every day seemed to be the same as the day before. It was during those days
that I began asking God when it would end. I knew that He had something else
for me but how would I get from there to here? When would it change? What do
you really want with my life?

It was during those days of isolation, silence, monotony, the ordinary that
I heard God call my name. What did God say? He said, "Eddy." I thought I was
by myself and so I looked around to see who was there but there was no one
there but me. I thought I was imagining things and went back to work and
then the voice came again, "Eddy." I knew Who it was then. Did God say
anything else? No. He simply called my name, and it was enough to know that
He had not forgotten about me. It was enough to know that He knew exactly
where I was and what I was doing.

Do your days seem to stretch forever the same into eternity? Do you wish for
a change? Do you wonder if God even cares or if He even knows where you are
or what you are doing? In these days of quietness, in these days of the
ordinary, these are the days that God calls your name. Yes, God can speak
through the thunder, or the fire, or the earthquake, but so many times, it
is in the "still small voice" that He speaks. Are you listening? He may only
call your name but it will be enough.

Elijah listened and waited for God to speak through the wind, the
earthquake, and the fire. God did not speak through those things. Instead,
God spoke in a "still small voice." Why did God speak? Because He had more
for Elijah to do. The work of Elijah was not yet finished.

Why would God speak to you? He will speak to you as He did to Elijah in His
still small voice if He has something for you to do. Does God have something
for you to do? We are God's fellow workers, co-laborers (1 Corinthians 3:9)
and we are Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Are you listening?

Copyright © 2005. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
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Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.

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