Elijah and modern earthquake research
The Biblical prophet, Elijah, is in a desert cave, wanting to resign as prophet – deep in burnout probably – following a bruising encounter with Queen Jezebel (I Kings 19:9-18)
God says to go out of the cave and stand before him. But before Elijah does there is a strong wind, an earthquake and a fire, and only then does he go out and hear the voice of God.
In modern days, those three connections to earthquakes have often been noted and recorded, but not in connection with Elijah!
Although it only happens in a minority of cases, strong very brief winds may accompany earthquakes. Accounts vary whether this is before or after the quake. The mechanism could be earth movement creating a sudden pressure change over a large area, and a wind.
From the cave Elijah could see fire. A cave in a desert environment will not be in a forest, so this was not a forest fire. Is there anything else natural it might be? Accumulated published scientific papers including mine, lead me to believe this may be earthquake light. Most reports say the light is at the same time as the earthquake, and only a few say it is slightly before or after. The reports are from night-time quakes in which the light becomes visible though difficult to see in the daytime. Is it possible Elijah’s experience was at night? Perhaps.
Earthquake light at night is usually blue-white and in form resembles the upper half of a dome on the ground. If fire, it would have to be white-hot fire! It is over in half a second, hence is really a cold flash, and is caused by creation of momentary free and shallow buried electrical charge which causes the colours when it hits air.
However, some records describe glows, lasting after the earthquake, and lasting minutes rather than less than a second. The colour of glows is reddish, and observers sometimes think it is fire, like a volcanic eruption.
Shorter red flashes sometimes happen. The red light is most often seen when the earthquake is in the far distance. The image above was taken of red earthquake light in Peru during a quake in 2007.
However, it is not these dramatic events which speak to Elijah, but a still small voice.
You may not experience an earthquake, or see the fire of earthquake light, but listen! You may hear the still small voice.