If the Lord be God, Pray to Him

Introduction

When we see Elijah at Mt. Horeb, we see a man that has just had a major victory for the Lord at Mt. Carmel. God sends fire to burn up the sacrifice and then the 450 prophets of Baal are killed. Then in verse 41, Elijah looks at Ahab, king of Israel, and says, “Go eat while you can because heavy rain is coming.” The phrase “sound of abundance of rain” is a Middle Eastern phrase similar to our colloquial expression, “It looks like rain.”

Today, as we look at Elijah at Mt. Horeb, we see a man that has just had a major victory for the Lord at Mt. Carmel. God sends fire to burn up the sacrifice and then the 450 prophets of Baal are killed. Then in verse 41, Elijah looks at Ahab, king of Israel, and says, “Go eat while you can because heavy rain is coming.” The phrase “sound of abundance of rain” is a Middle Eastern phrase similar to our colloquial expression, “It looks like rain.”

What I love in this passage is that Elijah told Ahab that the sound of heavy rain is coming before a cloud even appeared in the sky. Elijah believed that God would answer his prayer for rain because God had already said that He would send rain (18:1). It’s then that Elijah prayed earnestly and fervently for God to send rain (18:42).

You may think, isn’t he being presumptuous…the answer, NO! He believed God would answer His prayers because He was praying according to the will of God.

The difference between many of our prayers and the prayer of Elijah.

1 Reyes 18:42-44

What’s often a difference between our prayer life and that of Elijah?

1. Elijah prayed and believed God would answer.

This is how Jesus taught His disciples to pray. ()

2. Elijah didn’t stop praying until God answered his prayer.

This is how Jesus taught His disciples to pray. (Matthew 21:22)

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

This, I believe, is why James refers to Elijah as an example of a righteous man of prayer. (James 5:16b-18)

Even as he was praying, his servant was checking for God to answer.

Secondly, Elijah didn’t stop praying until God answered his prayer. This, I believe, is why James refers to Elijah as an example of a righteous man of prayer.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

The word availeth the means to have “capacity,” “power,” “strength.”[1] In other words, the prayers of a righteous man has great power. James is saying, as evidenced in Elijah’s life, that prayer is effective in overcoming human obstacles and distresses.[2]

When we come to 1 Reyes 18:44, the answer to Elijah’s prayer is on its way.

Elijah was a man that prayed in faith believing that God would answer his prayer. Elijah didn’t stop praying until God answered his prayer. Elijah went before God in prayer with complete humility. Oh that this would describe our prayer lives!

Let’s think for a moment about what Elijah was asking of God in this prayer. This is so great, first Elijah asks for God to show Himself as Lord by sending fire…now Elijah asks for God to show Himself as Lord by sending rain. If we remember from our last lesson, we showed that Baal was believed to be the god of rain, the harvest, and fire. But in this single day, God proved to Israel who really is Lord.

When we come to verse 44, the answer to Elijah’s prayer is on its way.

READ 18:44 AGAIN

Now that sin had been judged, God could send the blessing.

When the servant returns the 7th time, he tells Elijah that a small cloud, about the size of a man’s hand, is rising up on the Mediterranean horizon.

Elijah hears the report from his servant of the small cloud and immediately goes to tell Ahab that the rain us coming. He basically says, “If you don’t go now, you won’t be able to. This rain is gonna come so fast and so heavy, you won’t be able to travel.”

“In Palestine [this is] the uniform precursor of rain. [A cloud] rises higher and higher, and becomes larger and larger with [great speed], till the whole heaven is black, and the cloud bursts in a deluge of rain.”[3]

Elijah hears the report from his servant of the small cloud and immediately goes to tell Ahab that the rain us coming. He basically says, if you don’t go now, you won’t be able to. This rain is gonna come so fast and so heavy, you won’t be able to travel.

Application: When God answers prayer, there is no question whether it’s been answered.

1 Reyes 18:45

READ 18:45

The whole scene changes from a single cloud off on the horizon to the whole sky being black with clouds, wind, and heavy rain. There is no doubt now that God has sent rain. Ahab is moving quickly in his chariot to leave Mt. Carmel and get to Jezreel, a midway point between Mt. Carmel and his capital city of Samaria and most likely the nearest city to Mt. Carmel. Jezreel is also believed to have been Ahab’s winter capital.

1 Reyes 18:46

If there has been any question in Elijah or Ahab’s mind up to this point on how these things were accomplished, it’s made clear in verse 46 where Elijah’s strength throughout this day was coming from—the hand of the Lord was upon him.

Application: Like Elijah, if we are going to do anything for the Lord, His hand must be upon us. We cannot go on in our own strength.

In verse 46, Elijah give a great example of servant hood. Throughout this day whole day, Elijah has been giving orders to Ahab—Elijah has been in charge.

In 18:19 – Get all of Israel, the prophets of Baal, and the prophets of the groves and meet me at Mt. Carmel.

In 18:23-25, the instructions for the challenge were given by Elijah.

In 18:40, the slaying of the prophets was ordered by Elijah.

In 18:41, Elijah tells Ahab to go eat.

In 18:44, Elijah tells Ahab it’s time to go home.

All of a sudden, we get to verse 46, Elijah displays that he is still a servant of the king of Israel. He girds up his loins, it other words, he lifted up his cloak and tucked into his belt to prevent him from tripping or being slowed down by it. Then he begins running.

This wasn’t a little jog. Remember, a heavy storm is bearing down up them. They are on the move to get to Jezreel. Elijah, after all the events of that day, is strengthened by God, and runs a marathon. Elijah runs ahead of Ahab and his chariot for approximately 25 miles until they reach the city gates of Jezreel. This, no doubt, was made possible because of the hand of the Lord.

Now listen, this wasn’t a little jog. Remember, a heavy storm is bearing down up them. They are on the move to get to Jezreel. Elijah, after all the events of that day, is strengthened by God, and runs a marathon. Elijah runs ahead of Ahab and his chariot for approximately 25 miles until they reach the city gates of Jezreel. This, no doubt, was made possible because of the hand of the Lord.

Call to Action: If the Lord be God, pray to Him.

Sticky Statement: If the Lord be God, pray to Him.

Throughout Elijah’s ministry, he has been a man of prayer. He is recorded in James as being a man of prayer. He spent time in prayer twice on this day and after each time, God showed Himself to be Lord. God is using Elijah to teach Israel and to teach us, “If the Lord be God, pray to Him.”

Application

From Elijah’s life up to this point, we can look and see what prayer to the one true God brings.

Up to this point in Elijah’s life, we can look and see what prayer to the one true God brings.

1. Prayer Brings Judgment

Elijah didn’t pray for it not to rain simply so the people would be judged. The purpose of the judgment was to turn the heart of the people back to the Lord.

2. Prayer Brings Miracles (18:36-38)

3. Prayer Brings Blessing

Our God is a God of blessings. We, I believe, don’t recognize or get to enjoy many of the blessings that God has in store for us because we don’t pray for them. Remember, God had already to Elijah that it was going to rain, but Elijah still fell humbly before God and prayed.

4. Prayer Brings Strength

Conclusion

If the Lord be God, pray to Him.

[1] Kittel, G., Bromiley, G. W., & Friedrich, G. (Eds.). (1964–). Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 3, p. 397). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 227). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[3] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 227). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.