How many times have you called out to the Lord? How many times have you prayed for God to answer a prayer and have yet to see it answered? Maybe a prayer of hope, excitement, love, desperation? Maybe it is a prayer that you have been praying for weeks, months, or even years? You go to the Lord knowing that nothing is impossible and through God all things are possible, but as time goes by it seems to slip from the forefront of your mind. You find that you don’t quite have the same level of anticipation, faith, or excitement as you did when you went to the Lord the first time. So, what do we do? The Lord gives us a clear example in 1 Kings 18:41-45.
The scriptures says:
41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” 42 So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. 43 Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. 44 Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” 45 And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel .
(This event takes place right after Elijah prayed to God in front of the prophets of baal. The Lord comes and answers by sending fire from Heaven and burning up the sacrifice Elijah had prepared).
As I was reading this scripture I couldn’t help but to think what was going through Elijah’s mind. He just saw God move in a mighty way and knew God was about to pour out again, literally. He told Ahab that he could hear a mighty rainstorm coming. From what I can gather prior to this it sounded like a sunny afternoon with no indication of rain, but he knew God was going to move. He goes on to bend down and put his head between his knees and as he is waiting, he sends his servant to go look toward the sea. Not once, not twice, but seven times. Seven times he sent his servant to look. While scripture does not say this, I would bet that each time Elijah heard his servant say “there is nothing there,” it did not phase him. He just sent him back again and again until the servant came back with a different report.
As I read this story it gave me a picture of how I believe God wants us to seek him. Elijah sent his servant seven times and in scripture the number seven often symbolizes completion. Elijah sent his servant until it was complete and he saw the Lord. So for us, does it matter how many times or how long it takes? Are we going to believe without wavering and continue to look? Can we pray the second time, sixth time, one hundredth time with the same conviction and belief that we started with?
1st James says
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Let us persevere and seek after the Lord, not stopping, slowing down, or doubting. Lord, let us be a people that put all of our hope, all of our trust and all of our prayers in Your hands. Let us come to You hoping and believing and never ceasing. And let it be glorifying to You.
–Chris Kane
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