The Still, Small Voice

“And after the fire came a still, small voice.” — 1 Kings 19:12

After the fire fell on Mount Carmel, you might think Elijah would have felt on top of the world. But he didn’t.

When Queen Jezebel heard what had happened, she was furious. She sent a message to Elijah: “By this time tomorrow, I will kill you!”

Elijah was afraid, and he ran for his life. He ran a long way south, to the edge of the desert. Then he went on alone, a whole day’s walk into the wilderness. He sat down under a bush, and he was so tired and sad that he wanted to die. “I’ve had enough, Lord,” he prayed. “Take my life.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

Suddenly an angel touched him. “Get up and eat,” said the angel. Elijah looked around, and there by his head was a loaf of bread baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again.

The angel came back a second time and touched him. “Get up and eat,” he said, “because the journey is too much for you.” So Elijah got up and ate and drank. And with the strength from that food, he walked for forty days and forty nights, until he came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

Elijah went into a cave and spent the night there. And God spoke to him. “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

“I have worked so hard for You, Lord,” said Elijah. “But the Israelites have turned away from You. They have broken down Your altars and killed Your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

“Go out and stand on the mountain,” said the Lord, “for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and mighty wind came, so strong that it tore the mountains apart and smashed the rocks. But the Lord was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake.

After the earthquake there was a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire.

And after the fire there was a still, small voice. A gentle whisper.

When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And the voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Elijah told God how alone he felt. And God was gentle with him. God gave Elijah new work to do. He told him to anoint a new king, and to choose a young man called Elisha to help him and to be the next prophet.

And God told Elijah something else. “You are not alone. There are still seven thousand people in Israel who have not bowed down to Baal.”

Elijah had thought he was the only one. But God had thousands of faithful people Elijah didn’t know about.

When we are tired and sad, God doesn’t shout at us. He takes care of us. He gives us food and rest, and then He speaks to us gently.

Read it in your Bible: 1 Kings 19:1–18

Dear God, when I feel tired, sad or alone, thank you that you take care of me and speak to me gently. Help me to remember that I am never really alone. Amen.