8 So Elijah got up and ate and drank. The food made him strong enough to walk for 40 days and nights. He walked to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.
9 There Elijah went into a cave and stayed all night.Then the Lord spoke his word to him: “Elijah! Why are you here?”
10 Elijah answered, “Lord, God of heaven’s armies, I have always served you the best I could. But the people of Israel have broken their agreement with you. They have destroyed your altars. They have killed your prophets with swords. I am the only prophet left. And now they are trying to kill me, too!”
11 Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go. Stand in front of me on the mountain. I will pass by you.” Then a very strong wind blew. It caused the mountains to break apart. It broke apart large rocks in front of the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake, there was a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a quiet, gentle voice.
13 When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his coat. He went out and stood at the entrance to the cave.Then a voice said to him, “Elijah! Why are you here?”
14 Elijah answered, “Lord, God of heaven’s armies, I have always served you the best I could. But the people of Israel have broken their agreement with you. They have destroyed your altars. They have killed your prophets with swords. I am the only prophet left. And now they are trying to kill me, too.”