On my last visit to see mom, I was rewarded with some Vitamin D after “finding” the secret patio at the hotel. the sky was glorious (although a bit hazy from the Canadian fires) with just small puffs of clouds suspended in air.

In this passage, Elijah had a “show-down” with the prophets of Ba’al, he was watching intently for a cloud. The small puff of a cloud was his sign that the famine had ended in Israel. It was Elijah’s confirmation that the years of waiting were over.

Elijah gathered up his garments and ran. He ran like no other racer has ever run. He ran in the rain from the top of Mount Carmel to Jezreel. He ran ahead of King Ahab’s chariot. He ran because the hand of the Lord was on him.

This “show-down” was also from God’s hand. It included Elijah challenging the idol called Ba’al, the fire falling from heaven in answer to Elijah’s prayer, the actions/words of the people choosing God and not fearfully “limp (ing) around” with falsehood any longer. It ended with the slaughter of the false prophets who were deceiving God’s people. Watching Elijah run before him (for 25 miles), Ahab even had a chance to repent from allowing his wife, Jezebel, rule him and the country when she frightened everyone into submission by slaughtering God’s prophets. Afterwards, Elijah ran for his life as Jezebel threatened him as well.

God’s hand was evident in Elijah’s lifetime. Even today, people who live in oppressed situations, waiting for deliverance are waiting for the evidence of God. Yet, our waiting is over once we look heavenward and remember who is truly God. It is not those who threaten and wield fear as a weapon. It is the Creator of the clouds who shows the sign of His intention for mankind.

The greatest sign of all is the rainbow, given to Noah in a covenant to never wipe out mankind again. Noah and his family were saved because they found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

We too can find grace in the eyes of the Lord when we receive Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives (John 1:12,17).

This is called good news or the gospel message. Just as Elijah spotted the sign of a small puff of cloud, he was assured that his waiting was over.

Your “secret patio” may look a bit different than mine or the sign God gives you may not be a small puff of cloud, but the reward of waiting for God’s grace to appear in your family and loved ones will be worth the investment of time spent.

We also can rejoice in God’s glorious plan to bring grace to every people, tribe, tongue and nation. The sign of God’s grace for mankind is the empty tomb. Nothing has the power to stop God’s love for us, not even death.- Teresa

I Kings 18: 20-46 (ESV)*

The Prophets of Baal Defeated

²⁰ So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.²¹ And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. ²² Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. ²³ Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. ²⁴ And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” ²⁵ Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” ²⁶ And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. ²⁷ And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” ²⁸ And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.²⁹ And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.

³⁰ Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. ³¹ Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” ³² and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs^[a] of seed. ³³ And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” ³⁴ And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. ³⁵ And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.

³⁶ And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. ³⁷ Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”³⁸ Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.³⁹ And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” ⁴⁰ And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.

The Lord Sends Rain

⁴¹ And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” ⁴² So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. ⁴³ And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. ⁴⁴ And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” ⁴⁵ And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.⁴⁶ And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. 1 Kings 18:32 A seah was about 7 quarts or 7.3 liters

*Oneyearbibleonline.com