1 Kings: Walk Before Me FaithfullySample

How do you hear God’s voice? Having brought Elijah to Horeb, God now instructs him. Reminiscent of Moses, Elijah stands on the mountain as God passes by (v. 11). There are three mighty acts of power – a wind, an earthquake and a fire – but God is in none of them, though he sends them. Then there is ‘a gentle whisper’ (v. 12). Yet again God asks him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ (v. 13). 

Once more this is not so much a rebuke as God gently leading Elijah to understand more about him. Again Elijah responds by mentioning his zeal for the Lord, that he is the only prophet left and that his life is under threat. This strange episode, deliberately happening at Horeb, seems aimed at reminding Elijah that, despite the powerful display at Mount Carmel, it is God’s own spoken word that matters most. 

Sinai/Horeb was where God had spoken most clearly to Israel, and all that God said then through Moses is sufficient for Elijah to understand his own times. God had not yet given his people a mind to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear (Deuteronomy 29:4). So, like the Israelites during the exodus, they can see God’s powerful acts but need God to give them the right heart to understand and respond correctly. 

There is a great temptation for Christians today to seek to find God, and God’s word, in the wrong places. We might think that God is ‘in’ nature, or that God speaks in particularly striking ways. But, plain though it seems, God’s clearest and most regular communication to us is in his word, which for us is written Scripture. We cannot afford to jettison the regular reading of and listening to God’s word in the Bible. As Jesus reinforced, we live on what comes from the mouth of God. 

As Elijah departs, recommissioned by God, he throws his mantle over Elisha to follow him. He gives Elisha time to say goodbye to his family. When a greater prophet like Moses comes, there will be no time to say goodbye to family (Luke 9:61–62).

Reflection

Where do you look for God? Is listening to his word in the Bible an important part of your spirituality?