Elijah and John the Baptist both herd the voice of God and were zealous for Him

Part 8…1 Kings 19:11-18

Christ Jesus said, “And if you are willing to receive it, [John the Baptist] is Elijah who is to come.” Matthew 11:14

The Lord spoke this to Elijah, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” Elijah did so and saw a vision of sorts. This is what happened, “And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” Elijah began to hear the “still small voice” of God, which signifies not looking for the voice of God in phenomenal ways, but within the spirit, heart, and soul.

Like Elijah, John the Baptist heard the still small voice of God in his spirit through the Holy Spirit. John was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth, “[John the Baptist] will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.” Luke 1:15 John the Baptist did not witness mountains and rocks being broke in pieces for God to verify his ministry, did not witness a mighty earthquake as God’s seal of approval on his ministry, and did not witness a destructive fire to verify being sent from God. What John did witness was the still small voice of the Holy Spirit breaking through the rocks of hardened hearts, he witnessed the earthquake of corrupt hearts shaking and crumbling at his preaching, and he witnessed the fire of the Holy Spirit causing people to repent of their sin and be reconciled to God. As described in Matthew 23, John was up against much hardness and rebellion as a true Prophet of the Living God.

When Elijah heard the still small voice of God, he went out and stood at the entrance of the cave where he was staying. Like Elijah, John the Baptist came out his cave as a social pariah when the time of his ministry in the Holy Spirit came. Like in Part 7, the voice of God came to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” This also describes John the Baptist, his ministry, and his faithfulness to the Living God.

God spoke to Elijah, “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus.” Damascus was the place where the Lord explained to Elijah that destruction would come to the corrupt leaders of Syria and Israel. That is also where Elijah anointed Elisha to be his replacement as the true Prophet of the Living God.

Like Elijah, John the Baptist “anointed” his replacement, Jesus Christ, as quoted, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 John the Baptist baptized our Lord Jesus Christ, “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17

Like Elijah, God also revealed to John the Baptist of the destruction to come to those who reject the will of the Living God. John the Baptist said this of Jesus the Christ, “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12 God revealed to Elijah, the same as he revealed to John the Baptist, that a faithful few will be saved who do not serve the false god of this world, as quoted, “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

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“Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hqzael as king over Syria. 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. It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

1 Kings 19:11-18