Let Me Hear Your Thunder!

Southern California has been buffeted by a series of storms this week. All last night and throughout the morning I’ve been hearing thunder. As I listened to the thunder, I thought about Ben Kingsley in the movie, “Moses,” when he stood with the people of Israel at Mt. Sinai. I was intrigued by how Mr. Kingsley portrayed Moses’ excitement that he could finally retire. The people would hear the Lord for themselves. After 3 days of preparation, Moses and the people stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai to hear the Word of the Lord. The winds were fierce and there was a trumpet-like thunder piercing their ears. All of the people ran and hid, but Moses stood with his back straight and his face in ecstasy while the forceful wind swirled around him. He was shocked when he looked back to see the people running away to hide from the voice of the Lord. Eventually some came and stood by his side as they were hearing the 10 Commandments. They too began to repeat them in unison.

What struck me was Moses’ ability to stand in the power of the Lord’s Presence and Words. It hit me that Moses was used to hearing the Lord’s voice . He knew the Lord’s might and power. And yet, altough he feared the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with a reverential awe, he no longer was scared of Him.

That’s the “balance” that comes in a developing and maturing relationship with the Lord. We are awestruck at His thundering voice, which represents His power, majesty, might and yet, we also know Him by His love, His compassion and His still small voice.

I was reminded of my study last year of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 and Elisha in 2 Kings 2. Elijah ran from Jezebel and was sent to Mt. Sinai. It was there that he hid in the cave and listened for the Lord. His voice wasn’t in the wind, nor the earthquake, but was in the sound of a gentle whisper. You would have expected that Elijah would have heard thunder like the people of Israel and Moses.

One little curious thought…. Elisha revisted every spot where he traveled with Elijah: the Jordan River, Jericho, and Bethel. The word says in 2 Kings 2:25 “From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel and finally returned to Samaria.” Is it possible that Elisha also went to Mt. Sinai?

One more little thought… In Galatians 1:17,18 we are told that after Saul’s salvation, Paul spent 3 years in Arabia and then went to Jerusalem. In Galatians 4:25 Paul writes that Mt. Sinai is in Arabia.

Know what I think? Moses, the people of Israel, Elijha, Elisha, and Paul ALL went to Mt. Sinai to hear the word of the Lord. God of Wonders, I’m ready to hear Your thunder as well as Your whisper. My ears are open. SPEAK!