There is a story in 1 Kings I’d never paid much attention to until recently. During the last 2-3 months, it has come to mind over and over again, and I find it encouraging and challenging at the same time.
During the time Elijah was a prophet to Israel, Ahab was the king of Israel. Ahab made some seriously bad choices, and God was not happy with him. Sadly, when leaders make poor choices, those they lead often suffer the consequences as well, and Israel was no different. God sent Elijah to tell Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word” (1 Kings 17:1).
1 Kings 18 starts with these verses: “1Now it happened after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, ‘Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth.’ 2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.”
Chapter 18 continues with some pretty epic stories of God showing up for Elijah; I recommend reading it all. Rain isn’t mentioned again until the last paragraph, and that’s the part of this story that has challenged me lately. Here are verses 41-45 of chapter 18:
“41 Now Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.’ 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 He said to his servant, ‘Go up now, look toward the sea.’ So he went up and looked and said, ‘There is nothing.’ And he said, ‘Go back’ seven times. 44 It came about at the seventh time, that he said, ‘Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.’ And he said, ‘Go up, say to Ahab, “Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.”’ 45 In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower.”
I find this story very encouraging. God’s answers may not show up immediately as we would wish, but we can be assured His words will be fulfilled. Elijah knew that, and he kept sending his servant to look again because he believed the rain would come. I haven’t seen God’s promises come about yet, but I have felt Him continually remind me to look again. (The key to this is looking in light of Him and keeping the focus on Him instead of the clear skies/circumstances that don’t match His words and promises.)
I also find this story very challenging. Elijah has been in hiding during the years of famine. He has now waltzed in and told Ahab (the one he’s been hiding from) that the rain is coming (and killed 450 of the men he told Ahab to invite along for the day… Seriously, read the whole chapter.)
If I were Elijah, after the second or third time the servant came back and reported clear skies, I may have considered heading for a hiding place again. Even when a cloud the size of a man’s hand appeared on the horizon, I’m not sure I’d have sent word to the king to leave so he didn’t get caught in the heavy showers. I might have been tempted to wait until I felt a few sprinkles of rain.
I pray as I continue to look again in anticipation of seeing the rain God has promised in my circumstances, I will have the faith to be bold in speaking to others what God has spoken, that delays will not result in wavering trust. I want to, like Elijah, help others anticipate and see God’s word fulfilled, to involve others in watching for His promises with me, and preparing others to move out even before the full answer is visible.
How about you? Where do you find yourself in this story?
