A Still, Small Voice

“After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.”  1 Kings 19:12

Elijah was in hiding for his life, even though God had spectacularly answered his prayer with fire from heaven. Jezebel, however, had not been intimidated by Elijah’s victory and swore she would kill him. He fell into such depression that he wanted to die. If Jezebel could not be impressed with fire from heaven, how could Elijah ever hope to defeat her and her armies? Not even an angel could remove his doubts.

But then was sent “a great and strong wind,” and “after the wind an earthquake” (1 Kings 19:11). But the Lord was not in the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire. God finally reached Elijah with “a sound of a gentle blowing” that assured him that God was well in control of all circumstances. Similarly, Moses told the children of Israel, as they faced the Red Sea: “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord” (Ex. 14:13).

It was prophesied of the Lord Jesus that “He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the street.”  Nevertheless, it was also promised, “He will not be disheartened or crushed until He has established justice in the earth” (Isaiah 42:2, 4; see also Matt. 12:19).

In our human impatience, we think God should always move immediately in great strength. Unless there are large numbers of converts and displays of power, we grow discouraged, like Elijah. But God more often speaks in a still, small voice and works in a quiet way. “Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you...Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left” (Isaiah 30:18, 21).