Our scriptures are rooted in chaos and fear, which is seemingly appropriate for 2020. But, our scriptures also communicate the presence of God and community.
Elijah can be overly dramatic and apparently unaware of consequences for his actions. Elijah opposed Ahab, the Israelite King, and his Phoenician Queen, Jezebel. Elijah stood against their national institution of the worship of Baal and he defeated the prophets of Baal in a battle of “my God is better than your God”. Afterwards, Elijah had the prophets of Baal captured and he murdered them.
Jezebel was clearly not pleased and threatened his life. Thus, he fled to the wilderness. Chaos and Fear.
God promises to ‘pass before’ Elijah, in order that he may experience that intimate presence of God.
- There was a violent wind, a traditional sign of God…
but God was not in the breeze. - There was an earthquake, another traditional sign of God…
but God was not in the trembles. - There was a fire burning, again a traditional sign of God…
but God was not in the flames.
Afterwards, a deafening, unsettling, and terrifying silence fell upon that place. There was no noise from humans or critters of any size. There was no rustling of leaves in a breeze. And yet, God was present Read the rest of this entry »