After three and one-half years, at God’s directive, Elijah let King Ahab know it would rain. Afterward, Elijah went to the top of Mt. Carmel, threw himself on the ground, and put his face between his knees. He told his servant to go up and look toward the sea. His servant obeyed. He returned and said, “There is nothing.”
Unphased by the news, Elijah said, “Go again seven times.” The servant followed suit and relayed the situation six additional times, delivering the same news each time. But that news didn’t detract from what God told Elijah earlier.
The servant pressed on while keeping track of his journeys, which was also important. He had to follow the directions given to him. The scriptures don’t denote how long it took for the servant to go up and return. But he carried out his assignment. On the seventh time, though, he returned with a different report. God hadn’t lied to Elijah. He said, “Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.”
It was just what Elijah expected – a physical manifestation of what God told him! He told the servant to tell Ahab to get his chariot ready, head on out, and not let the rain stop him. Not long after, the sky grew black with clouds, winds began to blow, and the rain started falling.
It doesn’t matter if seasons of “There is nothing,” are in front of you. Sometimes, situations are still being completed; until then, you will see “nothing.” But take heart, God will finish the word He spoke! If He said, it will rain, I don’t care what it looks like, it will rain!
18 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.44 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.45 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 18:1, 41-45 (KJV)
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)