Still Small Voice (An Alternative View)

 

A few weeks ago, 1 Kings 19:12—the "still small voice" verse—came up in my reading. Though I'm quite familiar with the verse, I decided to take a second look at it and the surrounding passage. I wanted to know if that verse really meant what it's commonly taken to mean (as an exhortation to listen for God's whispers in prayer). Spoiler alert: I didn't find an answer to that particular question. But, I did find a whole other level of significance to the passage, including a much more specific understanding of what the "still small voice" might mean. What's more, this passage makes an excellent case study of how threads of meaning weave themselves throughout Scripture. So, I invite you to take a second look at 1 Kings 19 with me.

Contest of the gods

Let's start by setting the stage. 1 Kings 19 follows one of the most well known incidents in Elijah's ministry--the calling of fire from heaven. In chapter 18, Elijah calls the people together for a contest of gods: The LORD vs. Baal. The challenge: each side will set up an altar and sacrifice and call on their god to bring down fire from heaven.

Elijah tries to make it very clear that from a human standpoint, he is at a disadvantage. Firstly, he makes much out of being the only prophet left for the LORD, whereas Baal had 450 prophets serving him. Then, to press his disadvantage further, Elijah ordered barrels of water to be poured upon the altar for the LORD.

You all know the story. After much effort, the prophets of Baal finally gave up and let Elijah have a turn. Then, after a single, simple prayer God answered in power! Fire comes down and licks up not only the sacrifice, but the stones and the water. Baal's prophets are cut down, and all of Israel now knows that the LORD, He is God. The tides have finally turned as God begins to make His majesty known once again. Even the ongoing drought that Elijah predicted earlier was coming to an end.

Still Alone

Then, a messenger came to Elijah: "Jezebel will require your life by this time tomorrow." Reality set in. Jezebel still sat on the throne. And the people still followed her. Despite the wonders done at Mt. Carmel, there was not a mass repentance or any sudden turn of the tide. Whatever feelings of victory Elijah might have had were gone. Elijah was still alone.

Elijah ran. He gave up hope. The very words he used to taunt the enemy earlier were now taunting him, "I, even I only, am left." Here in the wilderness he cried like his forefathers--oh that he might have died in Egypt. But, God was not done with Elijah. He had mercy and strengthened him with food. Indeed, from that one meal, Elijah gained strength for forty days and forty nights. Then, he turned toward Horeb, to the mountain of God.

God of Power

Already in this story we're seeing hints of the Exodus story. Fasting for 40 days and nights, miraculous food in the wilderness, and a journey toward Mt. Horeb. Indeed, Elijah seems to be seeking the God of Moses, the God of Sinai, the God who thunders from the mountain and shakes the earth with His voice, who causes fire to fall from heaven. The God that rescued His people from the hand of the Egyptians with many signs and wonders. Let that God arise and fight for His people! Let that God rain down justice upon His enemies! Let the pharaohs of the world sink in the sea to rise no more.

Elijah looks for that God, but he does not find Him. A great and mighty wind tears through the mountains, but God was not in it. And earthquake shakes the rocks loose, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. A fire blazes, and still the LORD is not in the fire. Was this not how the LORD descended upon Sinai so many years before? With trumpet blasts and fire and smoke and a shaking of the earth? Where was that God now?

God of Steadfast Love

There are two clues here that suggest that Elijah (and we) are looking to the wrong part of the story. Two phrases mirroring language of Exodus. The first is God's command to "stand on the mount before the LORD", taking us back to Exodus 33:18-23 when Moses asked to see the glory of the LORD and God told him to stand on the rock. The second is the phrase "the LORD passed by", taking us back to Exodus 34:6-8 when God fulfilled Moses' request. A quick Bible search suggests that these two passages (Exodus 34 and 1 Kings 19) are the only ones in which that particular phrasing is used.

What is happening here? While Elijah is looking for God's glory in signs of power (like the fire from heaven), God is gently reminding him that His glory is in His name and His character. His compassion and justice. I can imagine the still small voice that Elijah heard speaking the same words that Moses heard from the mountain,

The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and fourth generation.

God of the Lowly

This particular moment with Moses comes after an incident that would have felt all too familiar to Elijah--the idolatry of the golden calf. God is sympathizing with Elijah in this moment. "You're not the first to feel alone. To weep at the sins of your people." And, yet, it's in this moment when God declares His name, His glory. In that still, small voice.

God goes on to address Elijah's complaint. First, He reminds Elijah of His place by giving Him a command. Elijah is just a humble servant of God. And he is to go anoint other servants to do the LORD's bidding. Actually, perhaps the word "just" here is misleading. God could come down in power and devastate His enemies. But God doesn't usually work that way. He works through human agency. Through ordinary means. Quietly. Even when He does great miracles, He usually does it through the hand of a human being. And, Elijah was a part of that.

Secondly, God hears the weariness in Elijah's voice and promises him a successor. It's finally time for Elijah to start taking off the mantle and pass it on to someone else. "Elijah, the time for you to rest is soon."

Finally, God addresses the complaint head on--No, you're not the only one. There are seven thousand that have not bowed the knee (a number that's not likely meant to be taken literally, but rather expresses an idea of completeness). Again, God is working behind the scenes. Silently. Again, God is working according to His character, not willing that any of His sheep should perish. He will show steadfast love and faithfulness to those who love Him. He will not leave the guilty unpunished. It may not happen according to Elijah's expectations or timetable, but God's word will not return to Him void.

So, what can we take away from this story? Perhaps we should be careful of seeking after the gods of power and instead look to the God of steadfast love, faithfulness, and justice. Perhaps we should humbly submit to His authority, walking in our small part of the story, all the while trusting that He will be faithful to make all things work together for the good of those who love Him. Even when we can't see it.

Occasionally, God does show Himself in the fire and the wind. But, more often, it's silently through His character expressed to us and through us. Even when we fail, He brings good out of our weakness and stumbling. That is the glory of our God. And that is the still small voice, reminding us of who He is.