What Did God’s Still, Small Voice Say to Elijah?
What Did God’s Still, Small Voice Say to Elijah?
(1 Kings 19:15-18 NKJV) Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive anoint Hazael as king over Syria. (16) Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. (17) And it shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. (18) Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
God Instructed Elijah about Where to Go and What to Do
This is amazing and very good news. God gives us specific instructions—including about the places he sends us. For example, God first sent Elijah to the brook Cherith; and when it dried up, God told him to go to Zerepath. When he went to the place God sent him, he went to a place of provision and safety. Later, after his bout of depression, God sent him to Horeb. This also was God’s will, as here God met with him and re-commissioned him for the remainder of his life and ministry.
One of the great advantages of Jesus’s mission to earth and his achievements for us is that we have direct access to God.
(Ephesians 3:12 ALT) In whom we have the boldness [or, joyful sense of freedom] and the access [or, privilege to enter] in confidence by means of faith in Him.
(Hebrews 10:19-22 BBE) So then, my brothers, being able to go into the holy place without fear, because of the blood of Jesus, (20) by the new and living way which he made open for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) and having a great priest over the house of God, (22) let us go in with true hearts, in certain faith, having our hearts made free from the sense of sin and our bodies washed with clean water.
Because of Jesus’s amazing achievements, we born again believers can each hear from God directly for ourselves—one on one. We can hear what God is saying to us about where to go, what to do etc. In addition, we can each hear his promises spoken to us by his still, small, authoritative voice.
We do not need any other intermediary between God and us—apart from Jesus. We do not need anyone else to hear God for us and direct our lives. However, this does not mean that God will not confirm what he is saying to us through prophets, believers, pastors, etc. God always confirms his word by the mouth of two or three witnesses (See: Deu. 19:15, Mat. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1). We can hear directly from God, but he does not intend this to make us independent of others in his family; we need each other.
(John 8:17-18 EMTV) “It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is valid. (18) I am the One testifying about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”
(Matthew 18:16 MKJV) “But if he will not hear you, take one or two more with you, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”
God also reveals his intended actions to his prophets before he does them. This is so his words can be verbalized on earth.
Remember, God’s word spoken by God is God’s action—despite through whom he chooses to speak them:
(Amos 3:7-8 LITV) For the Lord Jehovah will do nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (8) A lion has roared. Who will not fear? The Lord Jehovah has spoken, who will not prophesy?
If we hear something in the secret place—even as a still, small voice—then verbalize it for God on earth; and if this is confirmed in the mouth of one or two others, then it is God’s action.
Jesus put it like this: “What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear [privately] in the ear, preach from the tops of buildings” (Mat. 10:27 DKJV).
God has a place and assignment for you. Jesus set up his kingdom in such a way that you can hear directly from God about this. However, to ensure accuracy and to protect you from proud independence, he confirms his message to you in the mouth of one or two others. If we are constantly watching and listening for Him, and if we are humbly willing to be led by his still, small voice, we will hear him.
God Told Elijah to Delegate and Impart to the Next Generation of Leaders
(1 Kings 19:15-16 MKJV) And Jehovah said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you come, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. (16) And you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.”
God, in his still, small voice, instructed Elijah very specifically. He told him to “anoint” three new leaders for the next generation. God had called them to complete the mission Elijah had begun—that of eradicating Baal worship from Israel:
? Hazael as king over Syria
? Jehu as king over Israel
? Elisha as the prophet to take over from Elijah
If we follow the Bible narrative from this point on, we see that all of these “anointings” happened.
(1 Kings 19:19 LITV) And he left there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat; and he was plowing; twelve pairs were before him, and he was with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him, and threw his mantle upon him.
(2 Kings 8:12-13 LITV) And Hazael said, “Why is my lord (Elisha) weeping?” And he said, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel. You will send their fortified places into fire and you will slay their young men with the sword. And you will dash their sucklings to pieces; and you will rip up their pregnant women.” (13) And Hazael said, “But what! Is your servant a dog that he should do this great thing?” And Elisha said, “Jehovah has shown me that you will be king over Syria.”
(2 Kings 9:5-6 LITV) And he came in; and, behold, the army commanders were sitting. And he said, “I have a word to you, O commander.” And Jehu said, “To which of all of us?” And he said, “To you, O commander.” (6) And he rose up and came into the house, and poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “So says Jehovah, the God of Israel, ‘I have anointed you as king to the people of Jehovah, to Israel.’”
In these three passages, we see the “anointing” of the next generation’s leaders. The first, Elisha, was anointed by Elijah. However, this was not done with oil to represent the Holy Spirit coming on him, but with Elijah’s mantle (more explanation of this is coming). The second, Hazael, was anointed by Elisha—Elijah’s successor. This anointing was accomplished with a prophetic word. The third, Jehu, was anointed through Elisha’s trainee prophet (2 Kings 9:1). It was again spoken over him but this time confirmed with the prophetic action of pouring oil on him. In each case, God’s hand came on the recipient to fulfill what God had said about them to Elijah through his “still, small voice” on the mountain.
We note that Elijah didn’t anoint all these men directly himself. Primarily, this happened because of an interlude in the way things unfolded. King Ahab repented of his sin, and God allowed him extra years before he enacted the things he said to Elijah. This demonstrates God’s love for mercy:
(1 Kings 21:27-29 LITV) And it happened, when Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. (28) And the Word of Jehovah came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, (29) “Have you seen that Ahab has been humbled before Me? Because he was humbled before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days. I will bring the evil on his house in the days of his son.”
We also learn from this that God operates through people; he delegates. For example, Jesus sent twelve apostles and us to operate in his name. Elijah, Elisha, and his servant were merely messengers for God. So, in the end, it doesn’t matter through which of them he spoke; what matters is that his word and prophetic actions were conveyed to the intended recipients. This means that we should never be too proud to receive from God, no matter through whom he sends his message.
This also means that today, as long as you can at least speak, God can use you. Jacob/Israel spoke national destinies and future defining words from God while on his deathbed (Gen. 49). No matter how young or old you are, if you hear from God, and if you speak what he says, God can use you.