Context and Background

Elijah, a prophet of the Lord, is a central figure in the Old Testament, known for his unwavering faith and powerful miracles. One of the most significant events in Elijah's ministry is the miraculous end to a prolonged drought in the land of Israel. This event is recorded in 1 Kings 18 and highlights Elijah's role as a prophet who calls the people back to the worship of Yahweh, the one true God.

The Drought

The drought in Israel was a direct consequence of the nation's idolatry and the worship of Baal, a Canaanite deity associated with rain and fertility. Elijah, under God's command, announced the drought to King Ahab as a divine judgment: "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years, except at my word" (1 Kings 17:1). This pronouncement set the stage for a period of severe famine and hardship, lasting three and a half years.

The Confrontation on Mount Carmel

The drought culminated in a dramatic confrontation on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Elijah challenged the people of Israel to choose whom they would serve, God or Baal. He proposed a test to demonstrate the power of the true God: "Let them give us two bulls. Let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood, but not light the fire. And I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood, but not light the fire" (1 Kings 18:23). The God who answered by fire would be acknowledged as the true God.

The prophets of Baal called upon their god from morning until noon without success. Elijah then repaired the altar of the Lord, prepared the sacrifice, and prayed: "Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people will know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again" (1 Kings 18:37). The Lord responded with fire from heaven, consuming the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and even the water in the trench. This miraculous event led the people to proclaim, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39).

The End of the Drought

Following the victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah turned his attention to ending the drought. He instructed King Ahab to eat and drink, for there was the sound of heavy rain. Elijah then went to the top of Mount Carmel, where he bowed down to the ground and prayed earnestly for rain. He sent his servant to look toward the sea seven times. On the seventh occasion, the servant reported, "Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea" (1 Kings 18:44).

Elijah's faith and persistence in prayer were rewarded as the sky grew dark with clouds, the wind rose, and a heavy rain began to fall, ending the long drought. This miracle reaffirmed the sovereignty of God over nature and His responsiveness to the prayers of His faithful servants.

Significance

The miracle of rain after the drought serves as a powerful testament to God's authority and Elijah's role as His prophet. It underscores the futility of idolatry and the necessity of returning to the worship of the true God. Elijah's actions and the resulting rain demonstrate the effectiveness of fervent prayer and the importance of faithfulness to God's commands. This event remains a profound example of divine intervention and the power of God to provide and restore.1 Kings 18:41-45
And Elijah said to Ahab, Get you up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
Nave's Topical Index

James 5:17,18
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
Nave's Topical Index

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... 1 Kings xvii., xviii., where the conflict between Elijah and the ... of Baal for the
obtaining of rain is described ... the Hebrews had been much changed after they had ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... London; on his way home, through a heavy rain, the effects ... are wiser in their own
eyes than seven men that ... says is true, the things he looks after are better ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm

What is the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal? | GotQuestions.org

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Why did God take Enoch and Elijah to heaven without them dying? | GotQuestions.org

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