What Old Testament events connect with Elijah's story in James 5:17? James’ Snapshot of Elijah “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and there was no rain on the land for three and a half years.” (James 5:17) Old Testament Moments James Has in Mind • 1 Kings 17:1 – Elijah announces a drought to King Ahab. • 1 Kings 18:1 – In the third year God promises rain. • 1 Kings 18:41-45 – Elijah prays; the sky opens. • Covenant backdrop: Deuteronomy 11:16-17; Leviticus 26:19 (obedience brings rain, idolatry brings drought). • Supporting scenes during the drought: – Provision by ravens (1 Kings 17:2-6) – The widow of Zarephath and her unending jar (1 Kings 17:7-16) – Raising the widow’s son (1 Kings 17:17-24) • Related displays of answered prayer and fire: – Mount Carmel showdown (1 Kings 18:17-40) – Fire on the captains in Samaria (2 Kings 1:9-12) The Drought Pronounced—1 Kings 17:1 “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives… there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word.” Elijah’s declaration fulfills covenant warnings that heaven would shut when Israel chased idols (Deuteronomy 11:16-17). Living Under Closed Heavens—1 Kings 17 • God hides Elijah by the Brook Kerith and feeds him with ravens. • When the brook dries, the LORD sends him to a Sidonian widow whose flour and oil never fail. • A personal crisis—the widow’s son dies; Elijah stretches himself over the boy three times, cries out, and God restores the lad’s life. Each episode showcases prayer-fueled dependence in a dry season. Mount Carmel: Fire Before Rain—1 Kings 18:17-40 • Elijah gathers Israel and the 450 prophets of Baal. • One simple prayer: “Answer me, LORD, answer me, so that this people will know that You, LORD, are God” (v. 37). • Fire falls, hearts turn, false prophets are judged—spiritual climate must shift before physical climate does. Rain Returns—1 Kings 18:41-45 • Elijah sends Ahab to eat and drink: “there is the sound of a heavy rain.” • On Carmel’s summit Elijah bows with his face between his knees—seven rounds of expectant prayer. • A small cloud appears; soon “the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy downpour” (v. 45). The Covenant Thread Deuteronomy 11:16-17 ties idolatry to drought and repentance to restored rain. Elijah’s story is a living illustration: when Israel repented at Carmel, God reopened the heavens. Why James Cites These Events • To show that Elijah was “a man just like us”—ordinary yet able to move the hand of God. • To remind believers that fervent, righteous prayer still changes both spiritual and physical climates. • To anchor New-Testament exhortation in Old-Testament history, affirming the unchanging reliability of God’s Word. Takeaway Points for Today • Sin can close heavens; repentance and faith reopen them. • God often uses seasons of lack to deepen dependence and showcase His provision. • Persistent, expectant prayer—modeled by Elijah’s sevenfold petition—prepares us for God’s answer. • The same LORD who sent drought and rain in Elijah’s day delights to answer earnest prayer now. |
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