Elijah and the still small voice

The account begins after King Ahab told Jezebel what Elijah had done, including what had happened to the prophets of Baal. Jezebel sent Elijah a message threatening his life. Elijah left and went to Beersheba in Judah. He left his servant there, then traveled a day's journey into the wilderness.

Elijah sat under a juniper tree and asked the LORD to let him die. Then he lay down and slept. An angel touched him and told him to rise and eat. Near his head was a cake baked on coals and a container of water. Elijah ate, drank and lay down again. The angel of the LORD came a second time, told him to rise and eat because the journey was too great for him, and Elijah ate and drank again.

Strengthened by that food, Elijah traveled forty days and forty nights to Horeb, called the mount of God. He entered a cave and stayed there. The word of the LORD came to him and asked what he was doing there. Elijah answered that he had been very zealous for the LORD, while the children of Israel had forsaken God's covenant, thrown down His altars and killed His prophets. Elijah said he alone was left and that people were seeking his life.

The LORD told Elijah to go out and stand on the mountain. A great, strong wind tore into the mountain and broke rocks, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire came a still small voice.

When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and stood at the entrance of the cave. The voice again asked what he was doing there, and Elijah gave the same answer.

The LORD then gave Elijah specific work to do. He was to anoint Hazael as king over Syria, Jehu as king over Israel, and Elisha as prophet in his place. God also told Elijah that judgment would come through these coming changes. Finally, the LORD corrected Elijah's belief that he was the only faithful one left. God said He had reserved seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed to Baal or kissed him. Elijah was not alone, and God's work in Israel had not ended.