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).
This exchange teaches us about the nature of true spiritual leadership. Elijah wasn't interested in diplomatic pleasantries or political correctness. He understood that compromise with evil isn't neutrality, it's participation in that evil. Notice that both Jesus and the apostle Paul would later be called "troublemakers" for similar reasons (Luke 23:5; Acts 16:20; 17:6). When God's truth confronts human rebellion, it will always appear troublesome to those who prefer darkness to light.
Elijah's choice of Mount Carmel for this confrontation was strategically brilliant. Located near the border between Israel and Phoenicia, it was the perfect place for the Phoenician god Baal to meet Jehovah, the God of Israel. The location itself declared that this wouldn't be a private theological discussion but a public demonstration with international implications.
c. The Test That Exposed False Religion
The terms of the test were simple yet profound. Both sides would prepare sacrifices, but neither would light the fire. The god who answered by sending fire from heaven would be acknowledged as the true God. This wasn't Elijah's idea but God's plan, designed to expose the absolute impotence of idolatry while demonstrating His own unlimited power.
Representatives from all ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom gathered to witness this confrontation. Elijah's opening challenge went straight to the heart of their spiritual confusion: "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him" (1 Kings 18:21). Like Moses before Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:26) and Joshua at Shechem (Joshua 24:15), Elijah called for a definite decision. But the people remained speechless, whether from guilt, uncertainty, or simple spiritual weakness.
What followed was both tragic and absurd. The 450 prophets of Baal danced frantically around their altar from morning until noon, crying out to their silent god. They cut themselves with swords and spears until blood flowed freely, but nothing happened. By noon, Elijah began to mock them, suggesting that perhaps Baal was deep in thought, busy with some task, or even traveling. His taunting only increased their desperation, but their god remained utterly silent.
d. The Prayer That Brought Fire
At three o'clock, the time of the evening sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem, Elijah stepped forward with quiet confidence. Everything he did was calculated to make God's response even more dramatic. He rebuilt the altar of the Lord using twelve stones to represent the twelve tribes, reaffirming Israel's spiritual unity despite their political divisions. Then, in a display of absolute faith in God's power, he made the test even more challenging by having the altar, wood, and sacrifice drenched with water three times and filling a trench around the altar with water.
When Elijah prayed, his words were simple but profound: "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back" (1 Kings 18:36-37).
Notice the focus of his prayer. Elijah wasn't asking God to vindicate him personally but to glorify Himself and restore His people. He may have been thinking of God's promise to Solomon: "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
The response was immediate and overwhelming. Fire fell from heaven and consumed not only the sacrifice and wood but the stones of the altar, the dust around it, and even the water in the trench (1 Kings 18:38). Nothing remained that could be turned into a relic or shrine. The demonstration was complete and undeniable. The people fell on their faces and cried out, "The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God!"
This dramatic display of God's power serves as the foundation for everything that follows. When we see God prove Himself faithful in unmistakable ways, it should build our confidence for the challenges ahead. Elijah had witnessed God's supernatural power, and this experience would fuel his faith for the next phase of God's plan, praying for the rain that had been promised.
II. Persistent Prayer: The Spiritual Discipline That Births Breakthrough
With the false prophets defeated and executed according to God's law (Deuteronomy 13:13-18; 17:2-5), Elijah turned his attention to the next phase of God's promise, the restoration of rain to the drought-stricken land. But this would require a different kind of faith and a different kind of prayer. While his prayer at the altar had been brief and public, what followed would be intensive, private, and prolonged.
Understanding this transition is crucial for our spiritual development. God doesn't always answer our prayers in the same way or with the same timing. Some prayers receive immediate, dramatic responses, while others require patient persistence. The key is learning to discern what kind of prayer each situation requires and remaining faithful regardless of how long the answer takes to arrive.
a. The Posture of Birthing Prayer
After sending King Ahab away to eat and drink, Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and assumed a remarkable prayer position. He "put his face between his knees", a posture that would have been immediately recognizable in Middle Eastern culture as the birthing position (1 Kings 18:42). This wasn't merely a comfortable way to pray; it was a profound statement about the nature of what was about to take place.
According to James 5:17, Elijah's secret was prayer. In public, his prayers were often brief and direct. But here we see him engaging in a completely different dimension of prayer, what we might call travailing prayer or birthing prayer. This kind of prayer recognizes that some of God's greatest works must be "born" through intensive spiritual labor.
Do you understand what it means to birth something in prayer? Have you experienced what it means to press in and pray through until breakthrough comes? Too often, we pray once or twice for something, and if we don't see immediate results, we assume God isn't going to answer. We give up too quickly, not understanding that some of God's most significant works require persistent, patient intercession.
Consider Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying with such intensity that His sweat became like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Think about the early church in the upper room, continuing steadfastly in prayer until the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost (Acts 1:14; Acts 2:1-4). Throughout Scripture, we see this pattern: the greatest spiritual breakthroughs often emerge through the most persistent, intensive prayer.
b. The Test of Persistent Faith
The test of Elijah's persistence came immediately. He sent his servant to look toward the Mediterranean Sea for any sign of approaching rain. The first report came back disappointing: "There is nothing." A second time, then a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth time, each inquiry met with the same discouraging response. But Elijah didn't give up. He continued to pray, continued to send his servant to look, and continued to believe that God would fulfil His promise.
This pattern teaches us something vital about the nature of effectual prayer. Many of our prayers fail not because God doesn't want to answer them, but because we don't persist long enough to see His response. We live in an instant culture that expects immediate results, but God often works according to different timing principles. The delay doesn't mean He hasn't heard us or won't answer, it may mean He's developing our character, testing our commitment, or preparing us for something greater than we initially imagined.
Think about the areas of your life where you've been seeking God for a breakthrough. Is your marriage facing challenges that seem insurmountable? Have you prayed with the intensity and persistence of Elijah, or have you offered a few casual prayers and then resigned yourself to the status quo? Are you dealing with a prodigal child whose heart seems completely hardened? Have you been willing to labor in prayer with birthing intensity, or have you given up after initial disappointments?
c. The Principle of Spiritual Preparation
The Lord isn't teasing us or making things unnecessarily difficult when He requires persistent prayer. He's developing our spiritual muscles, strengthening our faith, and preparing us for the responsibilities that come with answered prayer. Consider this profound truth: the reason God stretches us in faith, teaches us in prayer, and sometimes forces us to mature through difficult circumstances is that He's training us for eternity.
This earthly life is our training ground for the eternal responsibilities that await us. The billions of years that lie ahead will require spiritual maturity, developed faith, and tested character. When God allows us to struggle in prayer, He's not being cruel - He's being a loving Father who understands what we'll need for the future He has planned for us.
Amy Carmichael, the great missionary to India, wrote: "Every day we live, we have to choose whether we should follow in the way of Ahab or of Elijah." Jesus' words in Matthew 6:33 come to mind: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." The choice is between seeking our own comfort and convenience (the way of Ahab) or seeking God's will and glory regardless of the personal cost (the way of Elijah).
d. The Reward of Faithful Persistence
On the seventh time, think about the biblical significance of that number representing completion and perfection; Elijah's persistence was rewarded. His servant returned with a different report: "Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea" (1 Kings 18:44). To most people, this tiny cloud would have seemed insignificant, hardly worth mentioning. But Elijah had been praying with expectant faith, watching for the smallest sign of God's response.
This moment teaches us about the connection between persistent prayer and expectant watching. Effective prayer isn't just about speaking to God; it's also about watching for His activity in our circumstances. We must learn to pray with our eyes open, alert to recognize God's response when it comes, even if it appears smaller than we expected.
The principle of "watching and praying" runs throughout Scripture. Jesus told His disciples to "watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation" (Matthew 26:41). Paul exhorted the Colossians to "continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2). This combination of persistent prayer and expectant watching positions us to recognize God's movement in our lives.
III. Prophetic Vision: Recognizing God's Movement in Small Beginnings
The moment Elijah's servant reported the small cloud, everything changed. Without hesitation, Elijah sent an urgent message to King Ahab: "Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you" (1 Kings 18:44). To anyone observing this scene, Elijah's response might have seemed premature, even foolish. After all, it was just a tiny cloud, no bigger than a man's hand. How could he be so certain that a major storm was approaching?
The answer lies in understanding what it means to have prophetic vision, the ability to see with the eyes of faith and recognize God's movement in circumstances that others might dismiss as insignificant. This kind of spiritual sight doesn't come naturally; it's developed through an intimate relationship with God, deep knowledge of His character and promises, and experience in watching Him work.
a. The Development of Faith-Filled Vision
Faith doesn't just see what is; it sees what God can do with what is. When we learn to see with the eyes of faith, we begin to recognize God's hand in circumstances that others might overlook entirely. This principle runs throughout Scripture like a golden thread, connecting story after story of God's people learning to see beyond natural appearances to spiritual realities.
Consider young David standing before the giant Goliath while the entire army of Israel cowered in fear. What did David see that others missed? While they saw an insurmountable obstacle, David saw an opportunity for God to demonstrate His power through His servant. In five smooth stones, David saw the defeat of a giant that had terrorized a nation. His faith-filled vision transformed what others viewed as certain defeat into glorious victory (1 Samuel 17).
Think about the widow of Zarephath during the same drought that afflicted Israel. When Elijah asked her to share her last meal, she saw in a handful of flour and a little oil not just one final meal but the beginning of supernatural provision that would sustain them through the entire famine (1 Kings 17:8-16). Her willingness to see beyond her natural circumstances opened the door to miraculous provision.
Remember the disciples facing the challenge of feeding thousands of hungry people with only five loaves and two fish. While they saw impossibility, Jesus saw abundance. In the hands of the Master, what seemed insignificant became more than sufficient to meet every need with abundant leftovers remaining (Matthew 14:13-21).
b. The Characteristics of Prophetic Vision
Elijah's response to the small cloud reveals several important characteristics of prophetic vision that we must understand and develop in our own lives.
First, Elijah demonstrated expectant faith. He wasn't just praying and then forgetting about it; he was actively watching and waiting for God to move. He positioned himself and his servant to recognize the answer when it came. This teaches us that effective prayer includes both asking and watching, both speaking to God and looking for His activity in our circumstances. We must learn to pray with expectant hearts, believing that God will respond and positioning ourselves to recognize His response when it arrives.
Second, Elijah exhibited educated faith. His understanding of God's character and promises informed his interpretation of what he saw. He knew that God had promised to send rain, so when he saw the cloud, he immediately understood its significance. This is why studying God's Word is so crucial to developing prophetic vision. When we know God's promises, we're better equipped to recognize when He's beginning to fulfill them in our lives.
The Bible declares, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). The more we saturate our minds with God's Word, the more our spiritual vision develops. We begin to see situations not just from a human perspective but from God's viewpoint. We learn to recognize His hand in circumstances that others might dismiss as coincidence.
Third, Elijah displayed acting faith. He didn't just recognize God's movement; he responded appropriately to it. He immediately warned Ahab to prepare for the coming storm. Faith without corresponding action is incomplete. James reminds us that "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17). When we see God beginning to move in a situation, we must be prepared to act on what we see, even if others don't yet understand what's happening.
c. The Application of Prophetic Vision
The principle of recognizing God's movement in small beginnings applies to every area of our spiritual lives. We often speak of having "eyes of faith," but Elijah demonstrates something even more remarkable, he had "ears of faith," hearing the sound of abundant rain before a single drop had fallen (1 Kings 18:41). This kind of spiritual sensitivity comes from intimate fellowship with God and deep trust in His faithfulness.
In evangelism, a casual conversation might be God's "small cloud", the beginning of someone's journey toward salvation. A neighbor's unexpected question about faith, a coworker's comment about feeling empty, a family member's willingness to attend church; these might seem like small things, but to the eyes of faith, they represent significant opportunities for eternal impact.
In ministry, a simple act of service might be the small cloud that signals the beginning of a major work of God. A young person volunteering to help with children's ministry, an unexpected financial gift arriving just when needed, a door opening for outreach in a new community, these seemingly small developments might be God's way of launching something far greater than we could imagine.
In personal spiritual growth, a small step of obedience might be the beginning of significant breakthrough. The decision to forgive someone who hurt you deeply, the commitment to begin tithing despite financial pressure, the choice to serve others when you feel overwhelmed by your own needs, these acts of obedience might seem small, but they often represent the start of major spiritual transformation.
d. The Warning Against Moving Ahead of God
However, the story doesn't end with Elijah's accurate prediction of the coming storm. What follows provides a crucial warning about the danger of moving ahead of God's specific direction, even when we're operating in genuine spiritual power.
After warning Ahab about the approaching storm, something remarkable happened. The sky became black with clouds, great torrents of rain began to fall, and "the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel" (1 Kings 18:46). Elijah, supernaturally empowered, outran the king's chariot for seventeen miles; an incredible feat that served as another sign of God's approval on his ministry.
But here's the critical point: up to this moment, Elijah had been careful to follow God's direction in everything he did. Every action was taken "according to the word of the Lord" (1 Kings 18:36). However, when he ran to Jezreel, he was acting on his own initiative rather than following God's specific guidance. The Lord didn't tell him to run to Jezreel.
This seemingly small deviation from complete dependence on God would have devastating consequences. The very next chapter records Elijah's flight from Queen Jezebel's threats, his deep depression, and his request that God take his life (1 Kings 19:1-4). The Iron Man of God, who had confronted an entire nation, was suddenly afraid of one woman's threats.
The lesson is sobering: when we experience elements of power or blessing in our lives, we must be especially careful not to begin moving on the basis of our own desires or vision rather than God's specific direction. Things may still happen; Elijah did reach Jezreel ahead of Ahab, but the side effects can be devastating when we step outside of God's perfect will.
Conclusion
The story of Elijah and the small cloud teaches us profound truths that can transform our understanding of faith, prayer, and spiritual vision. We've seen how God proves His supremacy through dramatic demonstrations of His power, building our confidence for future challenges. We've learned about the necessity of persistent, intensive prayer, the kind of spiritual travail that births breakthrough in the heavenly realm. And we've discovered what it means to have prophetic vision, recognizing God's movement in circumstances that others might dismiss as insignificant.
As we apply these lessons to our own lives, let us remember that the same God who sent fire from heaven and rain from a small cloud is still at work today. He still responds to persistent prayer, still honors genuine faith, and still accomplishes extraordinary things through ordinary beginnings. The question that remains is this: Are we watching and waiting with expectant faith? Are we willing to engage in birthing prayer until breakthrough comes? Do we have eyes to see and ears to hear when God begins to move in our circumstances?
Perhaps you find yourself in a season of spiritual drought right now. The promises of God seem distant, your prayers feel unanswered, and hope is beginning to fade. Take encouragement from Elijah's example. Keep praying with persistence and intensity. Keep watching for signs of God's movement. When you see that small cloud on the horizon, that first indication that God is beginning to respond, be ready to act with faith and urgency.
Remember that storms of blessing often begin with clouds no bigger than a man's hand. The key is developing the spiritual sensitivity to recognize these small beginnings and the faith to respond appropriately when we see them. God may be moving in your situation right now in ways that seem insignificant to others but are actually the beginning of something magnificent.
But let us also heed the warning from Elijah's experience. Even when we're walking in genuine spiritual power and seeing God work through us, we must remain completely dependent on His specific guidance. The moment we begin to operate from our own understanding rather than His direction, we open ourselves to unnecessary difficulties and defeats.
The God who answered Elijah's prayer is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He sees your situation, He hears your prayers, and He's able to bring the breakthrough you need. Watch for that small cloud. When you see it, like Elijah, you'll be able to declare with confidence: "A storm's coming!"
Let us be people who recognize God's movement in small beginnings, who persist in prayer until breakthrough comes, and who never forget that our God is still in the business of sending fire from heaven and rain from tiny clouds. He's looking for faithful servants who will recognize His work and respond with the urgency and faith of those who understand that when God begins to move, everything can change in an instant.
May we have the courage to confront compromise like Elijah, the persistence to pray until breakthrough comes, and the vision to recognize God's movement even in the smallest signs. For our God is mighty, His promises are sure, and when He says a storm is coming, we can be certain it will be a storm of blessing, provision, and answered prayer.
Watch for the cloud. When you see it, get ready. A storm's coming, and it's going to be good.
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Blessings,
Pastor JM Raja Lawrence
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
email: lawrencejmr@gmail.com
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