Whispers of God: Elijah at Mount Carmel | 1 Kings 9:11-13

In this famous section of scripture, God whispers to Elijah on the mountain, however, the emphasis is not on the whispers. Elijah is presented with fire, a great wind, and thunder but God is not in those things.

The biblical writers take great pains to paint Elijah as a new Moses, a new spiritual and political leader of the people in a dark time, yet the three things that are presented and rejected reference the theophany of Moses. (A theophany is the manner that God reveals himself, Moses' theophany was a burning bush, a cyclone by day - wind - and a pillar of fire by night, and when God spoke, Moses claimed, his voice sounded so much like thunder that the Israelites were afraid and wanted God to speak to Moses alone.)

For Elijah, the only way that God had ever revealed himself, fire, wind, and thunder, are presented and rejected without explanation. The unwritten conclusion is that God, himself, is different now or, at least, is presenting himself differently.

The reason is a mystery.

1 Kings 9:11-13

"Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the LORD told him.
And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.
And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.
When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?