Just before this action, King Ahab of Israel allowed his wife Jezebel, a Phoenician Princess (Phoenicia was where Lebanon is now), to kill many of the prophets of Adonai because she followed the God Baal. This made Elijah deeply sad and also afraid for his own life since he was also a prophet of Adonai.
(4) Elijah himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush and sat down under it, and prayed that he might die. “Enough!” he cried. “Now, O LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” (5) He lay down and fell asleep under a broom bush. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” (6) He looked about; and there, beside his head, was a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water! He ate and drank, and lay down again. (7) The angel of the LORD came a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” (8) He arose and ate and drank; and with the strength from that meal he walked forty days and forty nights as far as the mountain of God at Horeb. (9) There he went into a cave, and there he spent the night.
Then the word of the LORD came to him. He said to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” (10) He replied, “I am moved by zeal for the LORD, the God of Hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and put Your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they are out to take my life.” (11) “Come out,” He called, “and stand on the mountain before the LORD.”
And lo, the ETERNAL passed by. There was a great and mighty wind, splitting mountains and shattering rocks by the power of the ETERNAL; but the ETERNAL was not in the wind. After the wind—an earthquake; but the ETERNAL was not in the earthquake.
(12) After the earthquake—fire; but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire—a soft murmuring sound. [sometimes this is translated as a "still, small voice."] (13) When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his mantle about his face and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then a voice addressed him: “Why are you here, Elijah?” (14) He answered, “I am moved by zeal for the LORD, the God of Hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and have put Your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they are out to take my life.”
. HavLooking at the final few verses, how does God feel and appear to Elijah?
Why does the text tell us that a mighty wind came -- but God was not in the wind? Why is this important to say?
Is it the same for the fire and the earthquake?
Can you recall any examples of God making God's self known through wind or other major weather patterns? How about fire?
Elijah's experience of God is very quiet at this moment. Do you feel like you have ever had a moment of quiet when you felt God? How about a time of a major thunderous occasion like an earthquake, fire or wind storm?