ELIJAH: THE STILL, SMALL VOICE

After a forty-day march through the wilderness, Elijah found a cave on the side of Mount Sinai. There, in the quiet refuge, God spoke. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9).

That question is not unlike the question that God asked in the Garden of Eden. “Adam and Eve, where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). In response, they made excuses. Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the snake. “I’m here, and it’s someone else’s fault.”

The question that God asked Elijah is similar, and so is the answer. “Jezebel made me do it… The Israelites are to blame…” “I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life” (1 Kings 19:10).

God commanded the prophet to stand at the mouth of the cave. “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence” (1 Kings 19:11). With the prophet watching, God proceeded to demonstrate His power.

Wind tore at the rocky mountainside. “But the Lord was not in the wind” (1 Kings 19:11). The earth quaked. “But the Lord was not in the earthquake” (1 Kings 19:11). Fire blazed. “But the Lord was not in the fire” (1 Kings 19:12). Finally, after these miraculous outbursts, God spoke in a whisper. “Go and return by the way you came…” (1 Kings 19:15).

Elijah had been the prophet of God’s judgment. He had been witness to the miraculous. He was accustomed to God’s big voice!

Whispering, God seemed to say, “I have more work for you to do … work that doesn’t involve fire falling from heaven, raising the dead, or being fed by ravens. Trust Me to protect you. Trust Me to provide for you.”

Sometimes God speaks through a silent sunrise. Sometimes He speaks through tragedy and turmoil. Sometimes He speaks through the words of an old hymn, through the encouragements of a friend, or directly from the pages of His Word. Sometimes God speaks in a loud voice. Sometimes He whispers.

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).