Then
Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of
abundance of rain." 1 Kings 18:41
(NKJV)
There had been a
drought in the land for three and a half long years, and God told Elijah to
tell King Ahab that it was going to rain. But there was no sign of rain. In
obedience, Elijah told the King to get prepared because he heard the sound of abundance of rain.
How many times we see
very dark clouds on the sky and we think that a strong rain is about to come,
but then, the clouds just vanish and no sign of rain?
Elijah just believed
in the Word of God without waving in his faith. Although his physical eyes
could not see the sign of a rain; he believed in it so much that he even said that he heard
a sound of abundance of rain.
King Ahab were a
wicked person and he did not fear God; in fact his wife (Jezebel) was ordaining that all prophets (including
Elijah) would be killed.
Please notice that
the drought had lasted for more than
three years. We may have trials in life that may last longer than others. What makes the difference is how
we behave during the years of drought.
So Elijah went to appear before Ahab. Meanwhile, the famine had become very severe in Samaria. 1 Kings 18:2(NLT)
Things were getting severe on that land, but what we supposed to
do while we wait for the answer of our prayers? What to do when things are from bad to worse? What actions to take when the situation is severe?
We should imitate Elijah, by
confessing that an abundance of rain is about to come. In another words: that
an abundance of blessings is about to come. Be it in our family life, in our
health, in finances...
Faith
is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us
assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
Elijah had assurance
of something he could not see. Literally!
1
Kings 18:42-44 (NKJV) "So
Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he
bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his
knees, and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the
sea." So he went up and looked, and said,
"There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again.
Then
it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as
small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up,
say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops
you."
Elijah had absolutely
no sign of rain, but he confessed to the
king that a strong rain was about to come. Instead of worrying, look sad, stay low in prayers and in actions, blame others, getting mad at God or even thinking about
to give up; he kept praying on his knees despite of the negative report of his
servant. For seven times he would send
his servant to look toward the sea.
This a good example
that we are to persevere in prayer, even when our first prayers aren't
answered. Elijah kept in his position of prayer until the answer comes.
But what answer? He
said to King Ahab that an abundance of rain would come, and all that they saw
were a small cloud so small as a human hand!
Any other person
would got mad at God by this point, but not Elijah. Even though the sign were
so small, Elijah even sent another
message to the King in order for him to get prepared for the rain.
Some people don't give value for the small signs of blessings that comes prior of big blessings. This is a important fact to observe. Elijah could lose the chance of being answered by God if he would complain or let doubt comes in his heart.
And
soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm,
and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. 1 Kings 18:45 (NLT)
Just like Elijah, we
should get confident about what we see, no matter how small it might be, rather
than being angry about what we don't see.
"We
live by faith, not by sight". 2 Corinthians 5:7
(NIV)
We will all face
moments of great drought in this life, but our position in faith and prayers
will result in abundance of blessings.
Be
blessed!
