2nd October 2024
Yes, wait a bit – and no
Elijah was a person just like us. He prayed that it would not rain. And it did not rain on the land for three and a half years! Then Elijah prayed that it would rain. And the rain came down from the sky, and the land grew crops again.
James 5:17-18 (ERV)
James points to the example of Elijah as a man whose prayers were answered. We may read this and be encouraged. Or we may react by feeling a tad discouraged. I don’t think anyone would say that prayer is easy. We rejoice when our prayers are answered, but we may have a struggle on our hands when our prayers seem to have been ignored.
Elijah had prayed for a drought as the start of a wake-up call to the northern kingdom of Israel, as it was being led by King Ahab, under the powerful influence of Jezebel, into abandoning God and becoming a pagan nation, worshipping Baal.
After the long drought, Elijah summoned the king, the leaders, and the people to Mount Carmel to prove who is God: whoever’s God brings fire down on their offering will be declared the Lord of Israel. (1 Kings 18:24).
The prophets of Baal had all morning to get him on the case and send fire down onto their offering, and in spite of their antics and their growing, desperate actions, unsurprisingly he doesn’t turn up.
Later that day Elijah arranged for gallons of water to be poured over God’s altar and the offering, and to fill the trench he had cut around it. His prayer for God to show his power is less than thirty seconds long and boom – a nuclear-like explosion – and fire descends and licks up the burnt offering, and the wood, annihilates the altar, and all the water in the trench around it. The Lord, he is God, cry the people in response.
Elijah now prays that the rain will come. But it doesn’t happen immediately. He has to send his servant to check the sky seven times before a small cloud appears far on the horizon. Finally the rain is on its way.
And after that he flees for his life as Jezebel threatens to kill him. Now what does he pray? Actually, he prays twice that God takes his life. Were these prayers answered? No. Get up and go back to work, says God. (1 Kings 19 NIVUK).
Here’s the three ways God responds to us: immediate, wait a while, and no. All concertinaed in a short period of time in the life of one of God’s greatest servants. May we find it encouraging as we struggle in prayer.
Prayer
Father, you have given many biblical examples for our learning and encouragement. Above all you have given us Jesus, whose prayers were always answered, and as we struggle in prayer, we thank you that as our High Priest, he prays for us. Amen.
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Study by: Hilary Buck About the author: |
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Local congregation: Grace Communion in Lewes
The House of Friendship
208 High Street
Lewes
BN7 2NS
Meeting time: Sunday 11:00 am
Local congregational contact: Hilary Buck
Email: lewes@gracecom.church
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