Narrative Lectionary 641 (NL409): God Speaks to Elijah - November 2, 2025

Working Preacher's Narrative Lectionary

Content provided by Ben McDonald Coltvet and Working Preacher from Luther Seminary. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Ben McDonald Coltvet and Working Preacher from Luther Seminary or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

3d ago 13:38

MP3•Episode home

In this episode of "I Love to Tell the Story," hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester explore one of the most dramatic narratives in the Hebrew Bible: Elijah's journey to Mount Horeb and his encounter with God in the "sound of sheer silence" (or "still small voice").

After his dramatic victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah flees from Queen Jezebel's threats and travels from the northern territories all the way to Mount Horeb in the south—literally going "off the map." Exhausted and despairing, Elijah asks God to take his life, claiming he alone is left faithful to God.

But God has other plans. In a powerful theophany (divine appearance), God shows Elijah that the divine presence is not in the mighty wind, earthquake, or fire—as it was for Moses—but in the sound of sheer silence. God redirects the self-righteous prophet back to his calling, reminding him that he's not alone and that his work isn't finished yet.

The hosts discuss how this passage functions as a mirror for our own tendencies toward self-righteousness, the importance of reading it dramatically to capture its emotional depth, and how God's gracious persistence calls us out of ourselves and into service for others.

TIMECODES: 00:00 Introduction to the Narrative Lectionary 02:06 Elijah's Journey and Emotional Turmoil 08:16 God's Communication and the Theophany 11:49 Elijah's Vocation and God's Call 12:47 Conclusion and Reflection on God's Grace

🎧 Listen now and equip yourself for your preaching journey! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with fellow preachers.

🔗 Find more episodes and resources here: https://www.workingpreacher.org/.

Follow along with the commentary on 1 Kings 19:1-18 written by Mark Hamilton at https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/god-speaks-to-elijah/commentary-on-1-kings-191-18-5.

📢 Follow us for updates: https://www.facebook.com/workingpreacher https://www.instagram.com/workingpreacher/

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/9B5UxVg2QDw.

#narrativelectionary #lutherseminary #workingpreacher

702 episodes

#Religion #Christianity #Ben McDonald Coltvet #Working Preacher from Luther Seminary #Luther Seminarys