Grace to Hear
Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 18:41-46
Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”
1 Kings 8:41
Meteorologists often track storms moving across a region, estimating when they will pass by. After the Mount Carmel showdown (1 Kings 18:16-40) Elijah simply said to Ahab, “There is the sound of a heavy rain.” Elijah’s servant went to look six times and reported, “There is nothing there.” But after he looked the seventh time, the servant said, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”
Finally, a blip on the radar screen! How did Elijah hear the sound of a heavy rain, when there was nothing there? Elijah heard the voice of God, and that whisper announced that a great storm was on its way. Jesus, when speaking in parables, often said, “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9). Jesus also urged the churches of Revelation 2-3: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
People who struggle with physical hearing loss realize what a gift hearing is. But an even greater gift is hearing God speak. As Jesus said, “Blessed are … your ears because they hear… Many prophets and righteous men longed to … hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Matthew 13:16-17).
Today God does not whisper weather forecasts in our ears, but we can hear him in his Word every day.
Have you made use of the grace to hear?
God of all grace, open our ears so that we may hear your voice today. Whether in the midst of storms or in quiet times, please speak to us and help us obey. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Dale Vander Veen
Dale Vander Veen is a retired Christian Reformed pastor who with his wife, Edith, has ministered in California, Washington, and Michigan. They have three married children and six grandchildren. He currently writes a daily e-mail series of devotions.
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