Read: 1Kings 19:1-21, Acts 12:1-23, Psalm 136:1-26, Proverbs 17:14-15
“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. (1 Kings 19:11-13)
Relate: El is used in the Bible as a generic word similar to “god” in English. Sometimes it refers to YHWH, other times for other gods. Originally, however, El was the name of the high god of Canaanite religion. According to Canaanite mythology he had three sons and it was these three sons who were the idols most often worshiped by unfaithful Israelites in Elijah’s time. The oldest of these sons is Baal-Hadad. It is the prophets of this Baal that Elijah had a confrontation with in yesterday’s reading. The second son was Yam. Yam was the god of the sea and the god of chaos. The third son, Mot, is the god of death. He makes an appearance in the Bible twice consuming children and youth (Jeremiah 9:21) and peoples and nations (Habakkuk 2:5) The first reference is especially significant because Mot’s Ammonite equivalent, is frequently referred to in the Bible with the vile practice of child sacrifice by fire (abortion via religion).
Elijah is on the mountainside knowing the Lord is passing by. The storm of winds comes but Elijah recognizes that Baal is not god. The chaos of the earthquake comes, but Elijah recognizes that Yam is not god. The fire of death rages by, but Elijah recognizes that Mot or Molech is not god. Then in the stillness… God. When God shows up, it is not in the way anyone used to the gods of the time would expect.
React: Life can be full of storms. It is easy to get caught up in the chaos of the day to day hustle. I can become consumed by habits, and addictions… by sin that brings only death. But God is not in that.
We live in a world full of noise. Walkmans gave way to discmans which gave way to Ipads which are now a function of our phones. I didn’t have even the most basic of cell phones until nearly a year after graduating college and now, since my phone is a couple years old and is neither an Iphone or Android, I am considered a dinosaur. Going unplugged is not possible in our generation… yet it is necessary if we are to hear His still small voice.
Respond:
Father, help me to be still. With so much chaos and confusion, storms and noise, help me to find a moment, a time, a place today and tomorrow and the day after to unplug from the distractions of this world. Speak to me in that still small voice and train my ear to hear and my heart to respond. I want to be so attuned to Your voice that no storm can drown it out.
THE RIVER WALK 
Great to know that I’m not the lonely dinosaur 🙂
nice… I need prayer warriors to help me… I got a guy from Texas from a dating site trying to scam women & I’m one of them but he never got loads of stuff on me, just enough… I need you guys prayers of protection. I reported him. I hope you get this real soon cause I need all people to pray & that those guys find him quick. I contacted the city where the call came from & they are getting the fraud department on it. Thanx
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Thanks for detailing the name “el” and it’s significance to this portion of scripture. Your application of the names Baal, Yam and Mot to the wind, earthquake and fire helped me gain a deeper understanding of Elijah’s story. Thanks for pointing us to the “still small voice”–may we take time to listen! Blessings–Laura
Reblogged this on Strong, Brave, and Bold and commented:
beautiful voice
Wow this was a really insightful blog I was reading this scripture 1 kings 19 today, this really shed more light on the subject.
It’s so hard just to stop whatever it is we’re doing an be still. But, we need to follow instructions once in a while because if not we will be missing our greatest blessings. Great post, thanks. Bye and blessings,
Maritza
AMEN! Love this post! We are living in a chaotic world and we need to escape to a quiet place to hear from the LORD. Thank you!
God is in the small, the quiet sometimes. We have to listen and look to see His mighty presence, to be still to recognize the quiet strength He gives. Wonderful post. DAF
“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.” Your blog is powerful and I honestly hate how much it really gets me thinking.
I get that is a quote from the bible, and I was actually brought up in the church but.. Idk It’s… Ugh all I can really say is.. One love.
Thank you.
I love that verse. Thanks for sharing. It always speaks to my heart.
Amazing how difficult it can be to be still. We must relearn it.
Love it!!!!
Thank you so much for the info on the Canaanite gods. I really appreciate learning the extra-Biblical things and/or seeing how things mentioned in the Bible fit together. Thank you!
“I want to be so attuned to Your voice that no storm can drown it out.” I loved that you wrote this…
I also appreciate the background info about the Canaanite gods in this remarkable account from the Word. I’d never considered that the storm might represent Baal, and the earthquake and fire would represent his brothers. Very interesting.
A bit back I was reading that this was the first truly monotheistic moment in Israel’s history. (Rather than YHWH being the greatest of gods, He was the only God). I remember thinking, “What is he talking about?” So I had to dig a little deeper. What I found… wow.
I LOVE this scripture it reminds me that just when you’re looking for God to come one way, he comes in a completely different angle!
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Blessings my brother in Christ i read.. God is using you mightily. I thank God for you and learn so much from reading your posts. i sense you have been in His Holy Presence a time or to. for only God could reveal such wisdom. Be blessed father may we all seek that still small voice among the noise of life. Thank You father You are Faithful
Reblogged this on thedreamyactiveinertbrain and commented:
When the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with you above the storm…father you are king over the flood. I will be still know you are GOD.