The expression, “still small voice” is the King James Translation of Elijah’s experience in 1 Kings 19:12. The saying is often used to describe God’s communication with us today. Unfortunately, it has been jerked out of the context of 1 Kings 19 not to illustrate true audible voices but thoughts and inner promptings of the Holy Spirit. Others speak of the “still small voice” inside of us that prompts us to some action.
The voice that Elijah heard was not inside of him. We will look at the context of 1 Kings 19 in this blog. To set the stage, Elijah’s work was during the reign of Ahab. In chapters 17 and 18, Elijah predicts a drought and then receives rain after praying for it. It is also in these two chapters that Elijah’s needs are met at Cherith with bread and meat twice a day. He also helped for a widow by miraculously providing oil and flour for days before raising her son. Then, the greatest spectacle on Mount Carmel displayed God’s great power when fire came from heaven and burnt the offering that had been soaked with water. The 450 Baal prophets were taken and killed and Jezebel, Ahab’s wicked wife, pursued him to kill him. Ready to die because he feared the ultimate end of death and believes to be all alone, God encourages him with the knowledge that he is not alone and once again provides him food. Afterward, he takes a trip to Mount Horeb where he hears the voice of God.
Osman points out that Elijah has had clear and direct communication with God all along. It was common to hear these words, “The word of the Lord came to me saying…” This is the common approach rather than the small still voice model. In the early examples of chapter 17 and 18, God uses natural elements in a supernatural way, answers prayer with clouds, wind, and rain on one occasion and fire on another occasion. Afterward, God does not provide for Elijah as he had at the beginning. He was silent during Jezebel’s pursuit. At Horeb (Ch. 19), God asked him what he was doing there and he explains that Israel has forsaken the covenant, killed the prophets, and torn down the Yahweh’s altars, and he was the only one left, and that was about to change because they are looking for him. Question: Where is the still small voice in this text? His question, “What are you doing here?” was not an impression or a thought that he had to figure out and confirm to be from God. Further, God had done nothing during the forty-day manhunt for Elijah. A clear word from God instructed Elijah to stand on the mountain, and a supernatural display of power was through the use of natural elements, again. The wind broke the rocks apart, and the earthquake the ground, and a fire burned, but the Lord was not in them. The Lord did not use these to reveal His will to Elijah.
1 Kings 19:12 is where the King James, RSV, and ASV translates, “still small voice.” The NASB translates, “sound of a gentle blowing.” The English Standard translates it, “sound of a low whisper.” This is not easy to translate and what is described is not even clear. However, we know it was not an inner voice because the next verse reads, When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And, behold a voice came to him and said, Í have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (19:13-14). The first observation to note is that Elijah went outside the cave to hear a voice coming from outside the cave. If this were an internal nudging or thought, he would not have had to go outside to hear it. He could have stayed inside to hear His voice. The voice was outside the cave not in his own his head. He never had a problem hearing God’s voice.