A Fiery Answer

 1 Kings 18:30-39 (ESV)
 
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.
 
And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.
 

Reflection
 
There is one moment in my life when I heard God's voice in a clear and audible command. Typically, when I feel that God is communicating with me, it manifests as a persistent thought that I can't shake until I act upon it. However, this particular experience was different.

I had just found out that my late wife, Jessica, who was believed to be unable to conceive, was pregnant. For most expecting parents, this revelation would be a moment of pure joy. But given Jessica's debilitating condition—Cystic Fibrosis—becoming pregnant was considered a death sentence for her. At least that's what the doctors had warned us.

I found myself sitting on a baseball bench, moments before practice, consumed by the realization that I had only nine months left to spend with Jessica. Feeling utterly terrified, I turned to God in prayer, seeking solace, and heard His voice—so clear that I thought everyone else around me heard it, too—distinctly telling me: "You will have a son, and I want you to name him Samuel."

After practice, I hurried home as fast as I could. Bursting through the door, I sprinted up the stairs to our apartment, desperate to share with Jessica what I had been told. As soon as I revealed the message to her, she burst into tears. Little did I know, Jessica had just finished reading Hannah’s story in her devotional, where God granted her a son named Samuel.

At first glance, one might interpret today’s passage as Elijah challenging God to demonstrate His power. However, upon closer examination, we can see that Elijah prayed with unwavering confidence because he knew he had faithfully followed God's command.

God had instructed Elijah to do something seemingly impossible—soak wood and a bull in water and then set them ablaze. If you've ever tried to ignite something wet, you know that it's virtually impossible. Nevertheless, Elijah firmly believed in God's power and wholeheartedly trusted Him.

When we went for our first ultrasound, the technician asked if we wanted to know if the baby was a boy or girl. We confidently replied that we already knew because God had revealed it to us. The subsequent nine months turned out to be the healthiest period of Jessica's life, and she miraculously gave birth to one of the greatest blessings I have ever witnessed—our son, Samuel.

In stillness, we listened and placed our trust in God. And I can assure you that if you do the same, you will not be disappointed.


Action Step
 
We fill our lives with things that distract us from God’s voice on a daily basis. Find 5-10 minutes a day to pray to God and then sit in silence (no music, no phone, no distractions) and wait for Him to speak to you. Just sit, clear your mind, and focus on God.  
 

Prayer
 
God, thank You for loving me so much. I want to hear Your voice and live my life according to Your will. But my life is filled with things that distract me from hearing You. I worry that I won’t hear when You speak to me. Give me the wisdom to find time during the day to focus on You and Your voice. I know it might not be an audible voice, so open my heart to understand when You are speaking to me so I can follow the commands You have for me. Amen.