STOPPING THE DROUGHT

In 1 Kings 17-18 is the familiar story of Elijah and the three years of no rain and severe drought and famine in Israel because King Ahab and Jezebel his wife turned away from the Lord God of Israel and worshiped Baal and erected an altar to Baal in the House of Baal (which he built in Samaria). Ahab was a very evil man. Many Israelites followed this idolatry. “And Ahab made an Asherah (an idol of a female deity). Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.” (1Kings16:33) That is really a strong statement if you know the history of Israel. More than any king to really and totally tick off the Lord…

Three years later after Elijah pronounced the drought the Lord sent him to King Ahab and he did the famous and wonderful demonstration of the “fire of the Lord fell from heaven” and consumed the sacrifices (1 Kings 18:37-39) test with the Baal prophets. But there was still no rain.

Elijah then went up to Mount Carmel “And he bowed (to bend or crouch) himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.” (18:42) He was in communion with the Father. There is no mention of prayer. I, like many others, have taught and thought that Elijah “prayed seven times” for rain. I even thought and have encouraged others to stay strong and long in prayer until prayer is answered. The text never says that. It says he “bowed down with his face between his knees” and seven times sent his servant to see if he saw clouds or signs of rain. After seven trips the servant saw “a cloud the size of a man’s fist” and the rain comes flooding in. Prayer is never mentioned.

I am sure Elijah may ‘have been in prayer’ but I am also sure that he said nothing and his prayer was only listening for instructions from the Lord. He was open and broken. We might learn something deeper about prayer here.

“Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.” Jesus