1 Kings 18:45
Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
And in a little while
This phrase indicates the immediacy and certainty of God's response to Elijah's prayer. The Hebrew word for "little while" (כִּמְעַט, kim'at) suggests a brief period, emphasizing the swift fulfillment of God's promise. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the power of prayer, encouraging believers to trust in God's timing.

the sky grew dark
The darkening of the sky symbolizes the impending change and the fulfillment of God's word through Elijah. In the Hebrew context, darkness often signifies God's presence and power, as seen in other biblical narratives like the Exodus. This transformation of the sky is a visual representation of God's control over nature and His ability to bring about His will.

with clouds and wind
The clouds and wind are manifestations of God's sovereignty over creation. In the ancient Near Eastern context, Baal was considered the storm god, but here, Yahweh demonstrates His supremacy over the elements. The Hebrew words for "clouds" (עָנָן, anan) and "wind" (רוּחַ, ruach) highlight the dynamic and powerful nature of God's intervention, reinforcing His authority over false gods.

and there was a heavy rain
The heavy rain is the culmination of Elijah's prophetic declaration and God's promise to end the drought. The Hebrew word for "heavy" (גָּדוֹל, gadol) implies abundance and significance. This rain not only quenches the physical thirst of the land but also symbolizes spiritual renewal and God's provision. It serves as a testament to God's mercy and the effectiveness of fervent prayer.

So Ahab rode away
Ahab's departure signifies his acknowledgment of the rain's significance and perhaps a recognition of Elijah's God. The act of riding away (רָכַב, rakab) suggests urgency and a response to the dramatic change in weather. It reflects the human response to divine intervention, highlighting the need to act upon witnessing God's power.

and went to Jezreel
Jezreel, a significant location in Israel's history, was a royal city and a place of strategic importance. Ahab's journey to Jezreel (יִזְרְעֶאל, Yizre'el) marks a transition from the confrontation on Mount Carmel to the political and spiritual implications of the rain. It underscores the intersection of divine action and human governance, reminding believers of God's influence over nations and leaders.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Elijah
A prophet of God who played a central role in the events leading up to this verse, including the confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.

2. Ahab
The king of Israel at the time, known for his idolatry and opposition to God’s prophets. He witnessed the miraculous events on Mount Carmel and the subsequent rain.

3. Mount Carmel
The location of the dramatic showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, where God demonstrated His power by sending fire from heaven.

4. Jezreel
A city in the northern kingdom of Israel, where Ahab traveled after the rain began. It was a significant location in the account of Ahab and Jezebel.

5. The Rain
Symbolic of God’s mercy and the end of a severe drought, demonstrating His control over nature and His response to the prayers of the righteous.
Teaching Points
The Power of Prayer
Elijah’s persistent prayer led to the end of the drought. Believers are encouraged to pray with faith and perseverance, trusting in God’s timing and will.

God’s Sovereignty
The sudden change in weather demonstrates God’s control over creation. We can trust Him to intervene in our lives according to His purposes.

Repentance and Restoration
The rain symbolizes God’s willingness to restore and bless His people when they turn back to Him. This calls us to examine our lives for areas needing repentance.

Faith in Action
Elijah’s actions show that faith often requires boldness and action. We are called to step out in faith, trusting God to work through us.

God’s Faithfulness
Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, God remained faithful to His covenant. This reassures us of His steadfast love and commitment to His promises.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Elijah’s faith and prayer life challenge or inspire your own approach to prayer?

2. In what ways can you see God’s sovereignty in the natural world around you, and how does this impact your trust in Him?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "drought" in your spiritual life. How did God bring restoration, and what role did repentance play?

4. How can you demonstrate faith in action in your current circumstances, following Elijah’s example?

5. Consider the faithfulness of God in your life. How can you respond to His faithfulness in your daily walk with Him?
Connections to Other Scriptures
James 5:17-18
This passage references Elijah's prayer for rain, highlighting his faith and the power of prayer.

Deuteronomy 11:13-17
These verses discuss the blessings of rain as a reward for obedience to God, contrasting with the drought as a consequence of idolatry.

Psalm 135:7
This verse speaks of God’s control over the weather, reinforcing His sovereignty as seen in the events of 1 Kings 18.
Elijah and the Prophets of BaalE. De Pressense 1 Kings 18:1-46
Elijah an Example of the True Spirit of PrayerR. P. Buddicom, B. A.1 Kings 18:41-46
Persevering PrayerSpurgeon, Charles Haddon1 Kings 18:41-46
Prayers for Fire and for WaterJ. Parker, D. D.1 Kings 18:41-46
Rain At LastF. B. Meyer, M. A.1 Kings 18:41-46
The Coming RainW. H. Hutchings, M. A.1 Kings 18:41-46
The Conquest of FaithPreacher's Analyst1 Kings 18:41-46
The Prayer of FaithHomiletic Magazine1 Kings 18:41-46
The RainThomas Carr.1 Kings 18:41-46
The Return of BlessingJ. Urquhart 1 Kings 18:41-46
The Rustling and the RainF. S. Webster, M. A.1 Kings 18:41-46
The Sound of RainJ.A. Macdonald 1 Kings 18:41-46
People
Ahab, Elijah, Isaac, Jacob, Jezebel, Jezreel, Obadiah
Places
Jezreel, Kishon River, Mount Carmel, Samaria, Zarephath
Topics
Ahab, Black, Carriage, Chariot, Clouds, Got, Grew, Heaven, Heavens, Heavy, Jezreel, Jizreel, Mean, Meantime, Pass, Pour, Rain, Rideth, Rode, Rose, Shower, Sky, Thick, Wind
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Kings 18:45

     4035   abundance
     4272   sky
     4801   black

1 Kings 18:36-46

     4816   drought, physical

1 Kings 18:41-46

     8618   prayerfulness

1 Kings 18:44-45

     4805   clouds
     5092   Elijah

Library
Obadiah
To the Young '... I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth.--1 KINGS xviii.12. This Obadiah is one of the obscurer figures in the Old Testament. We never hear of him again, for there is no reason to accept the Jewish tradition which alleges that he was Obadiah the prophet. And yet how distinctly he stands out from the canvas, though he is only sketched with a few bold outlines! He is the 'governor over Ahab's house,' a kind of mayor of the palace, and probably the second man in the kingdom. But
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Trial by Fire
'And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose yon one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 26. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 27. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Elijah's Appeal to the Undecided
Now, we have these three classes here this morning. We have, I hope, a very large number who are on Jehovah's side, who fear God and serve him; we have a number who are on the side of the evil one, who make no profession of religion, and do not observe even the outward symptoms of it; because they are both inwardly and outwardly the servants of the evil one. But the great mass of my hearers belong to the third class--the waverers. Like empty clouds they are driven hither and thither by the wind;
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Obadiah; Or, Early Piety Eminent Piety
The Lord does not love that his servants, however great they are, should think lightly of their lesser comrades, and it occurs to me that he so arranged matters that Obadiah became important to Elijah when he had to face the wrathful king of Israel. The prophet is bidden to go and show himself to Ahab, and he does so; but he judges it better to begin by showing himself to the governor of his palace, that he may break the news to his master, and prepare him for the interview. Ahab was exasperated
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 30: 1884

The Prophet Hosea.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. That the kingdom of Israel was the object of the prophet's ministry is so evident, that upon this point all are, and cannot but be, agreed. But there is a difference of opinion as to whether the prophet was a fellow-countryman of those to whom he preached, or was called by God out of the kingdom of Judah. The latter has been asserted with great confidence by Maurer, among others, in his Observ. in Hos., in the Commentat. Theol. ii. i. p. 293. But the arguments
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

But Some one Will Say, Does He not Know Without a Monitor Both what Our...
But some one will say, Does he not know without a monitor both what our difficulties are, and what is meet for our interest, so that it seems in some measure superfluous to solicit him by our prayers, as if he were winking, or even sleeping, until aroused by the sound of our voice? [1] Those who argue thus attend not to the end for which the Lord taught us to pray. It was not so much for his sake as for ours. He wills indeed, as is just, that due honour be paid him by acknowledging that all which
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith

Selfishness and Prayer. A Contrast.
"So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees."--1 KINGS xviii. 42. WHAT A CONTRAST! And yet, both men were perfectly consistent. It is in each case what you would expect, and yet how differently it might have been. What a different story it would have been if only Ahab had listened to the teaching of God! How often we see men having chances of turning round and beginning a new
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

The West Coast of Galilee-Carmel.
The people of Issachar had "Carmel and the river for their bounds in length": the people of Zabulon, "Carmel and the sea." Carmel was not so much one mountain as a mountainous country, containing almost the whole breadth of the land of Issachar, and a great part of that of Zabulon. It was, as it seems, a certain famous peak among many other mountain tops, known by the same name, lifted up and advanced above the rest. The promontory Carmel, in Pliny, and in the mountain a town of the same name, heretofore
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Ninth Sunday after Trinity. How Long Halt Ye Between Two Opinions? if the Lord be God, Follow Him; but if Baal, Then Follow Him.
How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him. Was kinket ihr betrognen Seelen [106]Lehr. 1733. trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855 Why halt thus, O deluded heart, Why waver longer in thy choice? Is it so hard to choose the part Offered by Heaven's entreating voice? Oh look with clearer eyes again, Nor strive to enter in, in vain. Press on! Remember, 'tis not Caesar's throne, Nor earthly honour, wealth or might Whereby God's favour shall be
Catherine Winkworth—Lyra Germanica: The Christian Year

Fall of the Western Empire (Ad 451-476)
The empire of the West was now fast sinking. One weak prince was at the head of it after another, and the spirit of the old Romans, who had conquered the world, had quite died out. Immense hosts of barbarous nations poured in from the North. The Goths, under Alaric, who took Rome by siege, in the reign of Honorius, have been already mentioned (p 93). Forty years later, Attila, king of the Huns, who was called "The scourge of God," kept both the East and the West in terror. In the year 451, he advanced
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

Will the Knowledge that Some of Our Own are Lost, Mar Our Happiness in Heaven?
This is a difficult question to answer satisfactorily, on account of our instinctive feelings of natural affection, which arise, and, like a mist, obscure our judgment. Nevertheless, the difficulty is much lessened, and even entirely removed from some minds, at hast, by the following considerations. 1. Our happiness, even in this world, does not depend on the happiness of those who are bound to us by the ties of kindred or of friendship. This is especially the case when their unhappiness proceeds
F. J. Boudreaux—The Happiness of Heaven

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits Derived from It.
1. A general summary of what is contained in the previous part of the work. A transition to the doctrine of prayer. Its connection with the subject of faith. 2. Prayer defined. Its necessity and use. 3. Objection, that prayer seems useless, because God already knows our wants. Answer, from the institution and end of prayer. Confirmation by example. Its necessity and propriety. Perpetually reminds us of our duty, and leads to meditation on divine providence. Conclusion. Prayer a most useful exercise.
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

This was Antony's First Struggle against the Devil...
7. This was Antony's first struggle against the devil, or rather this victory was the Saviour's work in Antony [1005] , Who condemned sin in the flesh that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.' But neither did Antony, although the evil one had fallen, henceforth relax his care and despise him; nor did the enemy as though conquered cease to lay snares for him. For again he went round as a lion seeking some occasion against him. But Antony
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
Discourse 7 "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: And thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:16-18. 1. It has been the endeavour of Satan, from the beginning of the world,
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Subterraneous Places. Mines. Caves.
Thus having taken some notice of the superficies of the land, let us a little search into its bowels. You may divide the subterraneous country into three parts: the metal mines, the caves, and the places of burial. This land was eminently noted for metal mines, so that "its stones," in very many places, "were iron, and out of its hills was digged brass," Deuteronomy 8:9. From these gain accrued to the Jews: but to the Christians, not seldom slavery and misery; being frequently condemned hither by
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The First Commandment
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' Exod 20: 3. Why is the commandment in the second person singular, Thou? Why does not God say, You shall have no other gods? Because the commandment concerns every one, and God would have each one take it as spoken to him by name. Though we are forward to take privileges to ourselves, yet we are apt to shift off duties from ourselves to others; therefore the commandment is in the second person, Thou and Thou, that every one may know that it is spoken to him,
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Prayer
But I give myself unto prayer.' Psa 109: 4. I shall not here expatiate upon prayer, as it will be considered more fully in the Lord's prayer. It is one thing to pray, and another thing to be given to prayer: he who prays frequently, is said to be given to prayer; as he who often distributes alms, is said to be given to charity. Prayer is a glorious ordinance, it is the soul's trading with heaven. God comes down to us by his Spirit, and we go up to him by prayer. What is prayer? It is an offering
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures, and from the Apocrypha, which are Quoted, or Incidentally Illustrated, in the Institutes.
TO THE AUTHORS QUOTED IN THE INSTITUTES PREFATORY ADDRESS TO HIS MOST CHRISTIAN MAJESTY, THE MOST MIGHTY AND ILLUSTRIOUS MONARCH, FRANCIS, KING OF THE FRENCH, HIS SOVEREIGN; [1] JOHN CALVIN PRAYS PEACE AND SALVATION IN CHRIST. [2] Sire,--When I first engaged in this work, nothing was farther from my thoughts than to write what should afterwards be presented to your Majesty. My intention was only to furnish a kind of rudiments, by which those who feel some interest in religion might be trained to
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

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