Trudging into our campsite, nestled between the resplendent limestone formations of the White Desert of Egypt, we set up camp preparing for our first night under the stars. Having left Cairo and the signs of civilization far behind, we braced ourselves for three days of sand, desert foxes, and a breathtaking sunsets.
As we gathered around the evening campfire to drink tea, our Bedouin guide, Ashraf, shared with us, “Water cleanses the body, but the desert cleanses the soul.” The depth of his statement resonated, but only a few days removed from society could clarify its implications.
Trekking with an amazing 8th grade class from Cairo American College, my days were filled with wonderful memories of crazy desert games (International Chaos and Desert Ball), dune jumping, odd toilet experiences, and wild camping memories. One evening, after a dinner of grilled chicken and Bedouin bread (cooked over the open coals of our campfire), we decided to experiment with silence. Far from the bustle of Cairo, the honking of horns, the cloud of smog, the cries of children, and the chaos of life, we shut up.
And listened. And listened.
What I heard that night was not solely the light wind sweeping over the sand after a day of burning heat, nor the munching of hay coming from the camels.
In the silence...God.
I felt the presence of a Creator who is in control of a world that, at times, seems chaotic and spinning wildly out of control. A God who watches over the desert foxes, sand mice, and acacia trees. In the middle of an arid land, He provides for their sustenance. A God who paints majestic sunset backdrops and forms the rolling dune for the few visitors who dare venture into the desolation of the desert. And in that SILENCE...
I listene
d.It's no wonder that God chooses to reveal himself in the "gentle whisper" as He shared with Elijah. (I Kings 19:12) With the Psalmist, it resonates, "Be still and know that I am God!" (Psalm 46:10) The term, "be still" comes from the Hebrew, RAPHAH. Literally, "to let drop." The verb "to know" (YADA) could be translated, "realize."
"Drop everything and realize that I am God."
He is God.
In our flurry of non-stop activity and noise, how often do we lose sight this truth? How often does our busyness blind us from the reality of His promises? Do we stop and remember He is in control? That "the Lord is on his heavenly throne." (Psalm 11:4)
The Tuareg's (a Berber Nomadic people of the Sahara) have a proverb, "You have the watch; we have the time." If our desire to hear God's voice, then we must take the time to be still. To drop everything. To listen. In that silence, you will hear.
He has not lost control of this world, the desert, or your life. If he provides moisture for desert plant life and food for the desert fox, how much more will He care for us? (Matthew 6) We have a God of love who wants to communicate with us...will we listen?
Remember, it's in the imperative. "Be still!"
Shhhhh!
Listen.
