Elijah Part 6 – How Does The Rain Come When Elijah Prays?

…”There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming up from the sea.”
1 Kings 18:44

Elijah (really, it was God) had just finished defeating the prophets of Baal, and the people’s hearts had turned back to God. It was a good day!

Elijah knew God would send the rain now because the whole point of the drought was so His people would return to Him.

He was also keeping His promise. The Lord had said in Deuteronomy 11:13-17 that He would provide rain if they obeyed His commands but would shut the sky if they worshiped other gods.

In 1 Kings 17:1, when Elijah first told the king it wouldn’t rain, he also said, “Until I say the word,” meaning God would eventually send it. God is always faithful in doing what He says He will do.

Plus, God told Elijah He would soon send the rain when He instructed Elijah to show himself to Ahab (1 Kings 18:1)

But how would the rain come?

Let’s find out. You can also read the story in 1 Kings 18:41-46.

How Does the Rain Come?

After the prophets of Baal were defeated, Elijah returned to the top of Mount Carmel to pray. As he prayed, he told his servant to “Go up and look toward the sea” seven times. The seventh time, the servant returned, saying he had spotted a small cloud about the size of a man’s hand. Soon, the sky grew dark, the wind picked up, and a storm rolled in.

The End of the Drought

Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.” So Ahab went to eat and drink. (1 Kings 18:41-42a)

Elijah was giving the word for it to rain again (see 1 Kings 17:1) after 3 1/2 years. God had said to show himself to Ahab, and He would send the rain (1 Kings 18:1).

Furthermore, the people had turned their hearts back to God, which is what God was after.

Although King Ahab would have been humiliated after the defeat of Baal’s prophets, he also had reason to celebrate the end of the drought.

By now, Ahab realized Elijah was on close terms with the God of Israel. If Elijah said it was going to rain, the king believed him. So, he went to eat and drink.

It’s also possible that Ahab was afraid of Elijah after witnessing the miracle at Mount Carmel. But it was God he needed to fear, not Elijah.

Elijah Prays for the Rain

…but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel. He bent down on the ground and put his face between his knees. (I Kings 18:42b)

Elijah goes up from the Kishon Valley to Mount Carmel to pray.

The text doesn’t tell us he prayed, but James 5:18 gives us a clue that that is what he was doing when he bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

His posture reflected his earnestness in his petition as he waited for God to send the rain. The verse also suggests his prayer was powerful and effective (see James 5:16).

Go Out and Look Toward the Sea

Then he said to his servant, “Go up and look toward the sea.” So he went up, looked, and said, “There’s nothing.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” (1 Kings 18:43)

Elijah told his servant to go look towards the sea. Rains typically came from the west off the Mediterranean Sea, so Elijah told him to look there.

The servant returned the first time and said that he didn’t see anything, so Elijah sent him back. This happened six more times, which suggests Elijah’s confidence in God and perseverance in prayer.

A Small Cloud

On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming up from the sea. (1 Kings 18:44a)

On the seventh time, the servant spotted a small cloud. That was all that Elijah needed to hear. God was sending the rain!

Additionally, this small cloud was announcing a heavy rainstorm.

Hurry and Tell Ahab

Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’ ” (1 Kings 18:44b)

Elijah then instructs the servant to tell Ahab to hurry and return to Jezreel so he isn’t stopped by the storm.

A couple of possible reasons have been suggested for why Elijah wanted Ahab to hurry:

• The creek would rise, and Ahab wouldn’t be able to cross it
• A storm would make it impossible to travel by chariot

Or it’s possible that Elijah simply wanted Ahab to miss being caught in the rain.

The Storm Comes

In a little while, the sky drew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. So Ahab got in his chariot and went to Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:45)

The sky drew dark and stormy. The winds picked up as Ahab got in his chariot and headed to Jezreel.

Jezreel is where Ahab and Jezebel resided in the winter. It was about 17 miles from Mount Carmel and between Carmel and Samaria.

Did Ahab make it back before the storm came? It’s hard to say. One commentator says,
“The storm evidently overtook Ahab as he rode in his chariot to Jezreel.” (Thomas L. Constable, The Bible Knowledge Commentary on 1 Kings)

Regardless, the Bible gives no indication that Ahab didn’t arrive safely in Jezreel. However, he may have been wet!

Elijah Outruns Ahab’s Chariot

The power of the Lord was on Elijah, and he tucked his mantle under his belt and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:46)

Elijah also goes to Jezreel, running with divine energy. In fact, he outruns Ahab’s chariot and arrives at Jezreel first.

He tucked his cloak into his belt to run more easily and not trip over his long garment.

Literally, Elijah “girded up his loins” (KJV). This Hebrew idiom refers to doing anything vigorously or enthusiastically, which Elijah did when he ran (see 2 Kings 4:29).

The Moody Bible Commentary says, “The prophet, apparently thinking idolatry had finally been defeated, also headed the same direction on foot.”

If this was true, Elijah must have been elated. It meant that Ahab had also turned from Baal worship and would now worship Yahweh, the one true God.

Unfortunately, this sets the prophet up for disappointment and discouragement because he doesn’t take into account Queen Jezebel.

RELATED > > > > > Elijah Part 7 – Why Does Elijah Flee and End Up Under a Broom Tree?

What We Can Learn

More than learning how the rain came is what we can learn about Elijah’s prayer.

Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years. Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain, and the earth began to yield its crops (James 5:17-18).

Because the New Testament mentions Elijah’s prayer, we know this is something for us to learn. His prayer teaches us the importance of persevering in prayer. Never give up or yield to discouragement or doubt because we have a heavenly Father who hears us. We know that God:

• Graciously provides (Heb 4:16)
• Lovingly invites (Matt 7:7-11)
• Secretly rewards (Matt 6:6)
• Faithfully promises (2 Cor 1:20)

We see God answering Elijah’s request as he perseveres in prayer. His posture also indicates his seriousness and humility before God. Elijah isn’t demanding, but he is expectant and humble. He knows God will send the rain because He has promised to do so.

If we wish to begin a life of prayer, we must first be converted. This article is written for believers, but if an unbeliever is reading it and interested in what it says about prayer, click the link below and read about the first convert in Philippi to learn what must come first.

RELATED > > > > > Who Was the First Convert in Philippi? – At the River

Final Thoughts

For review, this story is about a prophet of God who prays for it to rain after 3 1/2 years, and God sends the rain.

This part of Elijah’s story comes after God tells him to return to Samaria and show himself to King Ahab. Then God says He will send the rain.

Elijah does this and challenges Ahab and the prophets of the false god Baal to a contest. God defeats the prophets of Baal through Elijah, and the people declare that God is the true God.

Now, God is ready to send the rain because the people have turned their hearts back to Him.

So Elijah prays for rain to come, and after seven times telling his servant to look to the sea, a small cloud is seen. Elijah then instructs Ahab to return to Jezreel right away so he won’t be stopped from going because of the rain.

Elijah also goes to Jezreel, running with supernatural speed and outrunning Ahab’s chariot.

What we can learn from this story is the importance of persevering in prayer.

Do you have any stories of God’s provision after you persevered in prayer?

 

Sources:

Walvoord, John F. & Zuck, Roy B. The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Victor Books Wheaton, IL, 1986 (Thomas L. Constable’s chapter on 1 Kings 18:40-46, p. 527)

Rydelnik, Michael & Vanlaningham, Michael The Moody Bible Commentary, Moody Publishers Chicago, 2014 (Harry E. Shields chapter on 1 Kings 18:41-46, p. 510)

Mc Gee, J. Vernon Thru the Bible Joshua through Psalms, Thomas Nelson Publishers Nashville, 1982, p. 290

Message by Ritch Boerckel of Bethany Church The Prayer (The Lives Of Elijah and Elisha, Faithful Living in Faltering Times series)