A great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks 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 sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.
—1 Kings 19:11–12
—1 Kings 19:11–12
I was fascinated when I learned several years ago that some horses have what their trainers call a “reining ear.” While most horses need to be led by a strap fastened to the bit in their mouth, some horses keep one ear tuned to their master’s voice. One ear is open for natural warnings; the other is sensitive to the trusted trainer.
The prophet Elijah had a reining ear. When natural circumstances gave him every reason to be frightened and he desperately needed to hear from God, he was able to do so, even with the noise and confusion around him. You see, he had just defeated 450 false prophets in a duel of power between their silent Baal and the one true God. Now the wicked Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him within a day. He needed to know what to do!
He stood on a mountain before God. A strong wind tore through the mountains; a terrible earthquake took place; and fire broke out all around him. After the fire came “a still, small voice.” God’s voice to Elijah wasn’t in the power of the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but in the whisper. Elijah had a reining ear, one that was trained and sensitive toward his Master, so he did what God said to do, which saved his life.
God still speaks softly and in whispers deep in our hearts today. Ask Him to give you a hearing ear so you can hear His still, small voice.
God’s word for you today: Listen for God with a “reining” ear.
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