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Reading - You Must Persevere (1Kings 17:17-24 & 18:41-46)
When we think of the prophet Elijah, we remember the spectacular stories. We think of the widow's pot of flour and jug of oil that never ran out. And the fire falling from heaven to consume Elijah's offering on Mount Carmel before the prophets of Baal. But I re-read the stories the other day and noticed something I hadn't seen before.
Elijah was living with the widow, whose supplies lasted as long as she fed him. Then one day her only son died and she cried out to Elijah. Elijah carried the son upstairs and laid him on his bed. He prayed to God to heal him and then lay down on him. And what happened? Nothing.
Again Elijah prayed and lay down on the dead son. Again nothing happened. What would you have done if it had been you in Elijah's place? I know I would have begun to doubt. Was God going to answer my prayer? Had I misunderstood? Was I praying for the wrong thing? The widow's son was raised back to life - but not until the third time.
After Elijah's spectacular confrontation with the prophets of Baal he told Ahab the king to go home quickly as it was going to rain. Then he went to a cliff top and knelt down and bowed before God in prayer. He sent his assistant to look out at the sky. Nothing.
Elijah's credibility was really at stake this time. It wasn't just an unknown widow in a tiny town. He had told the king it was going to rain. And did it rain when he prayed? No.
I was amazed when I read the story. Elijah sent his assistant seven times before he came back and reported that he saw a little cloud "like a fist."
Matthew Henry had this to say about this incident:
"He ordered his servant to bring him notice as soon as he discerned a cloud arising out of the sea, the Mediterranean Sea, which he had a large prospect of from the top of Carmel. The sailors at this day call it Cape Carmel.
Six times his servant goes to the point of the hill and sees nothing, brings no good news to his master; yet Elijah continues praying, will not be diverted so far as to go and see with his own eyes, but still sends his servant to see if he can discover any hopeful cloud, while he keeps his mind close and intent in prayer, and abides by it, as one that has taken up his father Jacob's resolution, I will not let thee go except thou bless me.
Note, Though the answer of our fervent and believing supplications may not come quickly, yet we must continue instant in prayer, and not faint nor desist; for at the end it shall speak and not lie."
We often give mental assent to things that we find hard to believe when faced with the reality. We know God has His own timing and His own plans (Isa. 55:8-9). We know we should be persistent in prayer and wait for the Lord. But what have you been praying for and not yet seen? Will you be like Elijah and keep on until God fulfils His promise?
"So do not throw away your confidence;
it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have
done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." (Hebrews
10:35-36)