Di padang pasir, dalam kesepian dan keputusasaan [setelah pengalamannya di puncak gunung di Gunung Karmel], Elia berkata bahwa dia sudah cukup hidup dan telah berdoa agar dia mati.
Tetapi Tuhan dalam belas kasihan-Nya tidak menuruti kata-katanya. Masih ada pekerjaan besar yang harus dilakukan Elia.—Prophets and Kings, 228. {TA 132.2}
Melalui seorang malaikat yang perkasa firman Tuhan datang kepadanya, “Apa yang engkau lakukan di sini, Elia?” Dalam kepahitan jiwa, Elia meratapi keluhannya: “Aku sangat cemburu kepada Tuhan Allah semesta alam:
karena orang Israel telah meninggalkan perjanjian-Mu, meruntuhkan mezbah-Mu, dan membunuh nabi-nabi-Mu dengan pedang: dan aku, bahkan aku hanya, aku yang tersisa; dan mereka mencari nyawaku, untuk mengambilnya.” {TA 132.3}
Memanggil nabi untuk meninggalkan gua di mana dia bersembunyi, malaikat menyuruhnya berdiri di hadapan Tuhan di atas gunung, dan mendengarkan firman-Nya.
Sebagaimana Elia patuhi, “lihatlah, Tuhan lewat, dan angin yang besar dan kuat membelah gunung-gunung, dan menghancurkan batu-batu di hadapan Tuhan; tetapi Tuhan tidak ada di dalam angin: dan setelah angin ada gempa bumi; tetapi Tuhan tidak ada dalam gempa bumi;
dan setelah gempa terjadi kebakaran; tetapi Tuhan tidak ada di dalam api itu: dan setelah api itu terdengar suara yang pelan.
Dan begitulah, ketika Elia mendengarnya, dia membungkus wajahnya dengan jubahnya, dan keluar, dan berdiri di pintu masuk gua. Kekesalannya dibungkam, semangatnya melunak dan tenang.
Dia sekarang tahu bahwa kepercayaan yang tenang, ketergantungan yang teguh pada Tuhan, akan selalu menemukan bantuan untuknya pada saat dibutuhkan.—The Review and Herald, 23 Oktober 1913. {TA 132.4}
In the desert, in loneliness and discouragement [after his mountaintop experience on Mt. Carmel], Elijah had said that he had had enough of life and had prayed that he might die. But the Lord in His mercy had not taken him at his word. There was yet a great work for Elijah to do.—Prophets and Kings, 228. {TA 132.2}
Through a mighty angel the word of the Lord came to him, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” In bitterness of soul, Elijah mourned out his complaint: “I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” {TA 132.3}
Calling upon the prophet to leave the cave in which he had hidden, the angel bade him stand before the Lord on the mount, and listen to His word. As Elijah obeyed, “behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks 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. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave.” His petulance was silenced, his spirit softened and subdued. He now knew that a quiet trust, a firm reliance on God, would ever find for him a present help in time of need.—The Review and Herald, October 23, 1913. {TA 132.4}
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