Just a little Cloud

While Elijah crouched in prayer on the mountain his view was restricted so he told his servant to go a little higher so that he could see the sea. After he had been praying for a little while he told his servant to go up and look to see whether the rain was coming. The servant went up but when he returned he had nothing to report. What happened? Were Elijah’s prayers ignored, had God not answered?

Elijah prayed some more and then sent his servant again. Again he came back and again he had nothing to report, no rain, no clouds nothing. But hadn’t Elijah said he had heard a storm approaching? Didn’t he tell Ahab to go and refresh himself because there was rain coming? Once again Elijah prayed and once again, a third time he sent his servant. But his servant still had nothing to report. Surely there was something wrong, maybe Elijah wasn’t praying right, perhaps he had overlooked something, where was the rain? Six times Elijah sent his servant up the mountain to examine the sky over the ocean, and six times he returned with the same answer ‘there is nothing’. Each time he went involved a trip up the mountainside and back, the servant may have started with optimism but after the sixth his enthusiasm must have been waning. Elijah himself had not moved and if his prayers had been fervent before, surely they were desperate now. Still he said to his servant go up once more. This time he came back with a different report. ‘I see a cloud, but it’s very small, about the size of my fist, and it’s coming up over the sea’. That was enough! This was what Elijah was waiting for - the rain was coming.

The servant may have wanted more evidence, actual rain perhaps or at least some wind. Even better if he could have a little thunder and lightning. But Elijah did not wait for that; he did not despise small beginnings. A little cloud a long way off was enough. Elijah had prayed and God had answered; now once again action was required. It was God that initiated Elijah’s prayer and it was his desire that Elijah should keep praying until the answer came. For his part Elijah was prepared to remain in prayer until he saw the evidence of God’s answer and when he saw it he responded in faith. Too often we call on God to do his will and diligently pray, but when the answer comes we are unconvinced. Rather than act in faith we want to wait until all of our conditions have been met. Rather than act when we see the approaching cloud, even when it is very small, we don’t move until the thunderstorm is upon us.

Now it was time to get up. The time of waiting was over, ‘go’ he told his servant ‘and tell Ahab to get his chariot organized before the rain comes and he gets bogged in the mud’. There is a time when we must respond in faith to the evidence of answered prayer. If Elijah had waited for the rain to come, Ahab would have become stuck in the mud and God’s plans would have been delayed. Every great movement of God starts with a small beginning, a little cloud that appears to be a long way off. It may come as we are praying, but are we praying with expectation? Do we keep looking for the answer, not surprised when it comes but eagerly waiting? Elijah knew the rain would come and he was going to pray until it did. When the cloud appeared he was ready, he knew what he was going to do next and he did it. When the small cloud appears on the horizon, get up and act. Don’t get caught sleeping when the rain comes – otherwise you might get caught in the mud!

The prayers of Elijah were definite. These were no wishy-washy, half-baked wishes but specific requests. He watched for the answer to his prayers because he knew exactly what he was asking for. Elijah was specific, as he bowed to the ground on Mount Carmel he prayed for rain – nothing else would do. When he called on God at the altar he needed fire. In the home at Zarephath he needed a boy brought back from the dead. He made specific requests and he got specific answers. How specific are your prayers? Are they so vague that almost any answer will do, or do you tell God exactly what it is that you are asking for and watch until you get it? Elijah did and his prayers were answered.

Elijah was serious about his prayers but he was also expectant. On Mount Carmel, seven times he sent his servant in anticipation of an answer and six times he came back with nothing to report, but the seventh time he announced the presence of a cloud. When Elijah engaged the prophets of Baal before the altar he had backed himself into a corner – God had to answer. But Elijah was in no doubt, he could pray expectantly. At the foot of the mountain Elijah told Ahab that he heard the sound of rain, he didn’t hope – he knew that God would answer his prayer.

When he was at the widow’s home Elijah prayed three times before his request was granted, but on Mount Carmel he sent his servant seven times to look for the answer. He didn’t give up, he persisted. His persistent nature is reflected in his obedience. He stayed at Brook Cherith until God told him to go. He remained at Zarephath until he was instructed to leave and on Mount Carmel he remained crouched until the cloud appeared. He persevered, he knew God would answer in his time, at the right time, and he was not surprised when the answer came. How often do we fail to see the answers to our prayers because we give up too soon? Have we prayed for someone’s healing but when we don’t see an instant response do we give up or move on? Have we made petitions for our communities, schools or young people but given up when things haven’t changed? This wasn’t the way Elijah prayed, he kept at it until the answer came.

How do your prayers compare with those of Elijah? His were based on the promises of God, they were definite and he prayed seriously and with expectation. There was no doubt with Elijah he knew that he was doing God’s will and in order for that will to be completed certain things had to happen. All Elijah had to do was to pray them into being. Why don’t you examine the prayers you have offered this week and see how they stack up? Remember prayer is God’s idea; he invites you to pray so that you can join him in seeing his will accomplished on earth as it is in heaven.