Context No. 3644 of 4322 · 1 Kings

1 Kings 19:11-21: in context

11He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” Behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake a fire passed; but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a still small voice. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15The LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16Anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place. 17He who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18Yet I reserved seven thousand in Israel, all the knees of which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 19So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and put his mantle on him. 20Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me please kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” He said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?” 21He returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, killed them, and boiled their meat with the oxen’s equipment, and gave to the people; and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and served him.

Elijah, exhausted and despairing, hiding in a cave, is told to stand on the mountain before the LORD. A great wind, an earthquake, and a fire pass by, but the LORD is not in any of them. And then comes a still, small voice, a gentle whisper, and there God speaks.

There is profound comfort in this. God is not only in the dramatic and the overwhelming; often he comes in the quiet, the gentle whisper we might miss altogether if we are watching only for the spectacular. And what God gives the discouraged Elijah is not a rebuke but renewal: a fresh commission, and the assurance that he is not alone, for God has reserved seven thousand who have not bowed to Baal. Elijah thought he was the only faithful one left; God gently corrects him and sends him on his way. To the burnt-out and despairing, God comes not always in fire and earthquake but in a quiet voice, correcting our despair, reminding us we are not alone, and sending us on again.

Am I listening for God's quiet, gentle voice rather than only the spectacular, and do I trust that he meets discouragement with renewal, reminding me I am not alone?

Sources

1 Kings 19:12: "After the fire, there was a still small voice."
1 Kings 19:18: "Yet I reserved seven thousand in Israel, all the knees of which have not bowed to Baal."
1 Kings 19:13: "When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle... Behold, a voice came to him."