A Storm's Coming

A Storm's Coming

1 Kings 18:44

"And at the seventh time he said, 'Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.' And he said, 'Go up, say to Ahab, "Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you."'" - 1 Kings 18:44 ESV

Introduction

Picture yourself standing on Mount Carmel after witnessing one of the most dramatic spiritual confrontations in human history. The air still carries the scent of supernatural fire, the ground is littered with the ashes of consumed sacrifice, and 450 false prophets lie dead in the valley below. Yet despite this overwhelming demonstration of God's power, the sky remains cloudless, the drought continues, and the promised rain seems nowhere in sight.

This is the moment when we encounter one of the most profound lessons about faith in all of Scripture. After sending King Ahab away to eat and drink, the prophet Elijah climbs to the summit of Mount Carmel, assumes the birthing position of prayer, and begins to intercede for the rain that God has promised. Six times he sends his servant to scan the Mediterranean horizon. Six times the report comes back: "Nothing." But on the seventh time, everything changes with a single, seemingly insignificant observation: "Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea."

To understand why this moment is so crucial, we must first grasp what led to it. We need to see how God builds our faith through dramatic demonstrations of His power, how He teaches us to persist in prayer even when answers seem delayed, and finally, how He develops our spiritual vision to recognize His movement in the smallest beginnings. Today we'll explore three essential truths that will transform how you view God's work in your own life.

I. Divine Demonstration: When God Proves His Supremacy

To truly appreciate the significance of that small cloud, we must first understand the extraordinary events that preceded it. The confrontation on Mount Carmel wasn't merely a religious debate or a theological discussion. It was a decisive moment when the eternal God chose to demonstrate His absolute supremacy over the forces of darkness that had held His people in spiritual bondage.

For over three years, the nation of Israel had suffered under a devastating drought that was no natural disaster. This was divine judgment, God's direct response to a nation that had abandoned Him to worship false gods under the corrupt leadership of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. During this time, God had hidden His prophet Elijah, first at the brook Cherith where ravens fed him, then with the widow at Zarephath where he witnessed God's miraculous provision. These weren't random hiding places but divine training grounds, preparing Elijah for the moment when God would command him to "show himself" once again.

When that command finally came, it arrived with a promise that would require unprecedented faith to believe: God would send rain to end the drought. But first, there would be a test that would expose the impotence of false religion and demonstrate the absolute sovereignty of the true and living God.

Let's examine how this divine demonstration unfolded, because understanding God's methods here will help us recognize His work in our own circumstances.

a. The Strategic Positioning of God's Servants

Before Elijah even confronted King Ahab, we encounter a remarkable figure in Obadiah, the governor of the royal palace. Here we see an important principle about how God positions His servants for maximum impact. Students of Scripture don't always agree on Obadiah's character, but the text makes his loyalty clear: he "feared the Lord greatly" and proved it by risking his life to rescue and support one hundred prophets during Jezebel's brutal persecution.

This teaches us something crucial about God's strategy. Not all of His servants are called to public ministry like Elijah. Some, like Obadiah, are positioned in places of influence where they can serve God's purposes from within existing structures. Consider how God used Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, who didn't make public displays of their faith in Christ yet were perfectly positioned to provide proper burial for Jesus when the moment required it (John 19:38-42). Think about Esther, who kept quiet about her Jewish heritage until the critical moment when it could be used to save her people.

The principle applies today. God has His servants in government offices, corporate boardrooms, educational institutions, and countless other positions where they can advance His kingdom purposes. Their faithfulness may not be visible to the public eye, but it's essential to God's larger plan.

b. The Courage to Confront Compromise

When Elijah finally met King Ahab face to face, the confrontation was immediate and direct. Ahab's first words reveal his twisted perspective: "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?" But Elijah's response cuts straight to the heart of the matter: "I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals" (1 Kings 18:17-18).