Chapter 12—From Jezreel to Horeb
This chapter is based on
1 Kings 18:41-46
;
19:1-8
.
With the slaying of the prophets of Baal, the way was opened
for carrying forward a mighty spiritual reformation among the ten
tribes of the northern kingdom. Elijah had set before the people their
apostasy; he had called upon them to humble their hearts and turn to
the Lord. The judgments of Heaven had been executed; the people had
confessed their sins, and had acknowledged the God of their fathers as
the living God; and now the curse of Heaven was to be withdrawn, and
the temporal blessings of life renewed. The land was to be refreshed
with rain. “Get thee up, eat and drink,” Elijah said to Ahab; “for there
is a sound of abundance of rain.” Then the prophet went to the top of
the mount to pray.
It was not because of any outward evidence that the showers were
about to fall, that Elijah could so confidently bid Ahab prepare for rain.
The prophet saw no clouds in the heavens; he heard no thunder. He
simply spoke the word that the Spirit of the Lord had moved him to
[156]
speak in response to his own strong faith. Throughout the day he had
unflinchingly performed the will of God and had revealed his implicit
confidence in the prophecies of God’s word; and now, having done all
that was in his power to do, he knew that Heaven would freely bestow
the blessings foretold. The same God who had sent the drought had
promised an abundance of rain as the reward of rightdoing; and now
Elijah waited for the promised outpouring. In an attitude of humility,
“his face between his knees,” he interceded with God in behalf of
penitent Israel.
Again and again Elijah sent his servant to a point overlooking the
Mediterranean, to learn whether there were any visible token that God
had heard his prayer. Each time the servant returned with the word,
“There is nothing.” The prophet did not become impatient or lose faith,
but continued his earnest pleading. Six times the servant returned
with the word that there was no sign of rain in the brassy heavens.
99