02/24/2024
In the Bible story about Elijah and the seven times he prayed for rain to return to Israel we are reminded to pray and continue to pray for those things we desire of God... But most of all, we learn to pray for the things that are within the will of God, and to live out our lives as scripture teaches us to. Every story teaches us something about how we should live, but how often are we applying those lessons in our daily lives? Do we carry them with us when we close our bibles, and set them on our nightstands, or when we leave our secret places of prayer?
“And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.”
1 Kings 18:44-45 KJV
In this story of Elijah telling his servant to look towards the sea seven times, and on the seventh time he saw a small cloud that grew into rain for all of Israel, it is interesting to note that God took a hand-sized cloud and grew it; he didn't just open the skies as he did in the time of Noah. So we realize that he was purposeful in the miracles surrounding this event. In fact there were six miracles performed here of which the miracle of rain was the culmination. The six miracles began when Elijah told Ahab that it would not rain for years…
“Now Elijah the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, in whose presence I stand, there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!”
1 Kings 17:1 CSB
The second miracle followed when Elijah was fed by the Ravens:
“Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. You are to drink from the wadi. I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.”
1 Kings 17:2-4 CSB
The third was when a widow fed Elijah from what she thought was her last meal:
“for this is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘The flour jar will not become empty and the oil jug will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the surface of the land.’” So she proceeded to do according to the word of Elijah. Then the woman, Elijah, and her household ate for many days.
The fourth miracle was raising the widow’s son from the dead:
“After this, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. His illness got worse until he stopped breathing. But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, brought him up to the upstairs room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, have you also brought tragedy on the widow I am staying with by killing her son?” Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times. He cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, please let this boy’s life come into him again! So the Lord listened to Elijah, and the boy’s life came into him again, and he lived.”
1 Kings 17:17, 19-22CSB
The fifth was calling fire from heaven onto the altar of God to defeat the 450 prophets of Baal:
“At the time for offering the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah approached the altar and said, “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things. Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.” Then the Lord’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!””
1 Kings 18:36-39
and finally we conclude with the miracle we are studying this morning... causing it to rain again:
“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.” On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming up from the sea.” Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’” In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour.”
1 Kings 18: 43-45
Six miracles that culminated in seven prayers. Six miracles that ended by rewarding Israel for returning to the worship of God. I don't think the seven prayers were as much about redundancy as they were about intensity. Maybe it's God's way of seeing if we are really listening, and then if we will do what we hear Him say.
If God tells us to dip ourselves in the river seven times, or pray seven times... It is important that we do so! He isn't toying around with us... He is making a point about obedience.
When my boys were young they had more energy than they knew what to do with. The excess caused them to get into trouble on multiple occasions. After much thought I came up with a punishment that would not only be a deterrent, but also drain off some of that energy and allow me to see if they were listening. When Ann would tell me about some trouble they had caused, I would talk to them about it and then say "Give me 40 laps around the yard!"
As they ran I would sit on the back deck and silently count the laps. I wanted to see if they obeyed my orders, and to make certain that they ran fast enough to siphon off some of that energy. When God says "Give me seven prayers" or "give me 40 days in the desert" he is also wanting to see how well we obey... And perhaps to siphon off some of the allure of temptation.
My sons are men now, but it took many laps around the yard before their small cloud of manhood grew into a really good sized rain storm. Nevertheless, they grew and the lessons were learned through obedience to a father who loved them. We are meant to use Bible stories for more than just entertainment, or to read about how God handled certain situations in days gone by, we are meant to pattern our lives after them, and bring them to life. This story of Elijah making it rain is what God was doing to Israel, and this is what I was doing in my house with my sons.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Word, and the gospel of Jesus that teach us of you, but even more, that teach us how to live our lives as you would have us live them. Thank you Abba for every lesson you have taught us, and that through our attention and obedience, we have learned. Thank you Lord for Jesus, and your Holy Spirit who guide us in how we can apply these lessons in our own lives. Teach me to be holy and righteous Father, and instruct me in how I should teach my children how to be godly men and women. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loves us and holds us to your breast when we obey, and who lovingly teaches us through your Word, and the lessons therein when we do not. You are merciful and full of grace Lord, and you never abandon us. You sent your Son Jesus to teach and redeem us while we were yet sinners, and in this way we are meant to learn not to abandon our own. Wash away our sins in the blood of Jesus, and teach us this powerful lesson about love, contrition, and forgiveness, so that we might apply it in our own lives. Praised be your name Heavenly Father, Lord, and God! Hear our prayers as we so often come to you seeking understanding, and teach us to obey you in life, and to live within your will always, as we pray them without ceasing. In every lesson we learn through scripture we give you the glory. Each time we apply those lessons in our lives, and families, we glorify you. Great are you and greatly to be praised because in us you have taken a lump of clay, and molded it into something worthy of eternity. We will say Holy, Holy, Holy, before you forevermore, and live our lives that others will see you in us.
Amen
Rich Forbes