The verse that precedes God’s revelation to Eliyahu might be viewed as part of God’s speech, or as part of the narrative. From the description of the revelation it would seem that the wind, the earthquake and the fire are not expressions of God's revelation. God controls them but is not identified with them. These verses emphasize the distinction between the destructive natural forces and God Himself.

Courtesy of the Virtual Beit Midrash, Yeshivat Har Etzion