Elijah has just had a MAJOR victory!
He stood up for the LORD and the prophets of Baal had been routed. The people had turned against those false prophets of a false god, and had killed them.
Now, 3 years after he first prophesied a drought, he began to look for rain.
He told Ahab to get moving...cuz "there is the sound of heavy rain" (1 Kings 18:41). Ahab must've thought he was nuts! It hadn't rained in 3 years...and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
But Elijah saw rain!
Elijah had his servant go to the top of Mt. Carmel and look into the sky..."There's nothing there", the servant said. 7 times Elijah sent him back--not wavering or doubting, just trying to discern God's timing--and the 7th time, he returned saying "A cluld as small as a mans's hand is rising from the sea". So Elijah said "Go and tell Ahab, "Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you." (vv.44-45).
Again, Elijah saw rain when there was no rain!
Elijah had learned that, when God decrees something, it's as good as done--it's only a matter of God's timing as to when it's done...and he knew that God had said it would not rain for 3 years. Now the 3 years was up, the prophets of Baal had been defeated, the LORD had been given the glory He was due, and therefore, Elijah knew that rain was coming.
Even in a blue sky, he could 'see' rain.
Even with a cloud the size of a human hand, he had seen rain.
His eyes didn't only look at things the way they were, but rather, the way they would be, as God did His work.
Elijah saw rain...by faith.
...and so can we.
When it feels as though your life is in a drought and a famine...like there is no blessing, like there is no 'life'--may you see the rain.
When it seems as though no one is standing with you against the onslaught of worldliness and evil...when you know you're standing on God's Word, but others try to get you to cave--may you see the rain.
When it seems as though God Himself is removed from you, and you can't 'feel' His presence. You know He's there, you know He's working, but you can't feel it--may you see the rain.
May God Himself give us 'eyes to see and ears to hear'. May you see in that cloud the size of a man's hand a great downpour of God's presence, blessing, and power...and may you walk it out, depending on Him for the timing.
"Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on..." (v. 45).
Today, May you 'see' the rain!
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