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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
his outlook toward the sea with the discouraging report that there is
no sign of clouds forming in the brassy heavens. The seventh time he
informs Elijah that there is a small cloud to be seen, about the size of
a man’s hand. This is enough to satisfy the faith of Elijah. He does
not wait for the heavens to gather blackness, to make the matter sure.
In that small, rising cloud his faith hears the sound of abundance of
rain. His works are in accordance with his faith. He sends a message
to Ahab by his servant: “Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that
the rain stop thee not.”
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Elijah’s Humility
Here Elijah ventured something upon his faith. He did not wait
for sight. “And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was
black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab
rode, and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and
he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.”
Elijah had passed through great excitement and labor during the
day; but the Spirit of the Lord came upon him because he had been
obedient and had done His will in executing the idolatrous priests.
Some will be ready to say: What a hard, cruel man Elijah must have
been! And anyone who defends the honor of God at any risk will bring
censure and condemnation upon himself from a large class.
The rain began to descend. It was night, and the blinding rain
prevented Ahab from seeing his course. Elijah, nerved by the Spirit
and power of God, girded his coarse garment about him and ran before
the chariot of Ahab, guiding his course to the entrance of the city.
The prophet of God had humiliated Ahab before his people. He had
slain his idolatrous priests, and now he wished to show to Israel that
he acknowledged Ahab as his king. As an act of special homage he
guided his chariot, running before it to the entrance of the gate of the
city.
Here is a lesson for young men who profess to be servants of
God, bearing His message, who are exalted in their own estimation.
They can trace nothing remarkable in their experience, as could Elijah,
yet they feel above performing duties which to them appear menial.
They will not come down from their ministerial dignity to do needful
service, fearing that they will be doing the work of a servant. All such