I have wondered many times lately what God might be trying to tell us. This past year has been filled with so many natural disasters – hurricane after hurricane, deadly earthquakes, flooding – while other places are in droughts, and fires that have literally burned down communities…and the list goes on it seems.  We may even wonder why God would let so horrific natural disasters happen, killing so many people in the process.

In 1 Kings 19:1-16, Elijah, a prophet, is running for his life.  He goes into the wilderness where there is absolutely nothing, but a “Broom” tree.  It’s a tree that offers much shade from the sun in the middle of the dessert.  Elijah falls asleep, but an angel wakes him up to give him food and water for the journey.  God asked him, “Elijah, what are you doing here?”  Elijah is clear, “I’m running for my life.  They want to kill me.  I’m the only one left (v.10!  They have killed all the other prophets.”  God instructs Elijah to go to the mountain and were the Lord will pass by.

Elijah goes to the mountain.  There is a great wind that splits the mountains (v.11).  There was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake…a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire (vv.11-12).  All these natural disasters were happening – but God was not there!  But, then there was ‘sheer silence” and Elijah heard it!  (v.12).  It is in the silence that Elijah heard God!

Here is what I believe…Natural disasters are a way for earth to take care of itself.  Unfortunately, we do a horrible job of taking care of the earth.  Maybe it’s earth rebelling.  That I don’t know.  But, what I do know is that God does not want us to suffer and hurt and be afraid.  God says to Elijah, “What are you doing here?”  What are we doing here?  I believe the answer is in the “sheer silence” of our day.

Blessings on your day!