Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ 1 Kings

[Nic J]

So, like, in 1 kings 19:11- 12 it's saying " the Lord was not in the wind " and so on. What does that mean? Then wasn't Elijah speaking to the Lord? God sent to that mountain and then told him to go back .. then what was the point of him going to the mountain if God was gonna send him back? why ?


so, this is random but related, so when Elijah traveled for 40 days and nights is that like actual 40 days and nights or Gods time of 40 days and nights? I never how to take timing in the bible.

[jimwalton]

The Lord had promised he would pass by, and pass by He did. He brought a great wind. The Lord does reveal himself in wind (Gn. 1.2; Acts 2.2; Ex. 10.13; 14.21). God even uses the image of wind when judging sin (2 Ki. 8.12; 10.32-36).

The Lord also reveals Himself in the earthquake. There’s no doubt about it, God is bringing these phenomena. God reveals himself in earthquakes in Isa. 29.6; Ezk. 38.19; Mt. 27.54. God even uses the image of earthquakes when judging sin (2 Ki. 9.1-10).

The Lord also reveals Himself in the fire, just like in Acts 2; Lev. 10.2; Ex. 32. God even uses the image of fire when judging sin (1 Ki. 19.17).

But what does it mean that “The Lord was not in” them? He was certainly revealing Himself to Elijah through these phenomena. e And God was still in the business of revealing Himself and in judging sin, two important things that Elijah needs to know at the time. But it was through his word to Elijah in the voice that he was going to continue to reveal himself to Elijah and give his message. God was possibly saying, “I could send my Spirit in power(wind), I could shake the nations (earthquake), and I could judge the sin of the nations (fire). But right now much choice is to give you a simple command to obey: Go crown a new king and choose a successor.

God isn’t always in the powerful and the grandiose. God is often in the small and hidden things as well. This was not the time for the final and devastating judgment of Israel. These grand displays of power are not going to accomplish what needs to be accomplished. Instead, what is needed is people who will simply carry on the work of the Lord in their normal day-to-day activities (I have 7000 more in Israel!). The work will go on without all the drama. It could even be a whisper of a prophecy that one day a humble and innocent child would be born, hidden to the world, but the Word of God himself in the flesh.

“What was the point of God sending him to the mountain just to send him back?” Why go all the way down to Horeb (which was Mt. Sinai)? You also asked about the 40 days. Horeb was only about and eight-days’ walk from where Elijah was. Was he just wandering all this time? My guess is that he spent the 40 days wrestling with God. “Why am I here? What am I accomplishing?” Am I doing what you want me to do? Please reveal yourself to me. I’m so weary. I need your help. Why am I here?”

You know there are plenty of references to “40” in the Bible.

the flood — 40 days and 40 nights of judgment
the wilderness wanderings — 40 years of judgment
Moses on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 24, 34) —40 days and 40 night of revelation
The spies spied out the land for 40 days (Num. 13.25) — trial
1 Sam. 17 — Goliath taught Israel for 40 days — Trial
Jonah 3.4 — Nineveh would be judged in 40 days — warning of judgment
Jesus’ temptation for 40 days — trial
Jesus on earth after the resurrection for 40 days — revelation

So we see that 40 relates to either trial, judgment, or revelation. Which was it here? I think trial, with revelation around the corner (when he arrived at Horeb).

The 40 days is definitely symbolic. He had felt spiritual failure (1 Ki. 19.3-4). He was waiting for a new phase of service. It’s also symbolic that he’s like a second Moses (Ex. 24.18; 34.28; Dt. 9.8-10), just as it did Jesus (Mt. 4.2).

Why did he go to Horeb? Verse 7 could indicate he was led there. Verse 9 might indicate he chose it. Why go all the way to Horeb? God could easily have revealed himself in the desert, right where he was. After all, God had spoken to Abraham right where he was (Gn. 18), to Moses right where he was (Ex. 3), and to Joshua right where he was (Josh. 1). why did Elijah have to go to Horeb? I have two guesses:

1. Possibly to put him further out of harm’s way. Jezebel, after all, had pledged to kill him, and she was not to be trifled with.
2. Possibly because Horeb was a symbol of something: God’s covenant.