Elijah's Prayer and God's Response
Jump to: SubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Introduction

Elijah, one of the most prominent prophets in the Old Testament, is renowned for his fervent prayers and the powerful responses he received from God. His life and ministry are chronicled primarily in the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings. Elijah's prayers are marked by their intensity and faith, and they serve as a testament to the power of prayer and God's willingness to intervene in the affairs of His people.

Elijah's Prayer on Mount Carmel

One of the most dramatic instances of Elijah's prayer is found in 1 Kings 18, during the confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. In a time when Israel was led astray by idolatry under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest to demonstrate the power of the true God. The terms were simple: each side would prepare a bull for sacrifice and call upon their deity to send fire from heaven to consume the offering.

Elijah's prayer is recorded in 1 Kings 18:36-37 : "At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, 'O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command. 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.'"

God's Response

God's response to Elijah's prayer was immediate and miraculous. As recorded in 1 Kings 18:38 , "Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench." This divine intervention not only validated Elijah's prophetic ministry but also reaffirmed the sovereignty of Yahweh over the false gods of the surrounding nations. The people of Israel, witnessing this powerful act, fell on their faces and declared, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39).

Elijah's Prayer for Rain

Following the victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah prayed for rain to end the three-and-a-half-year drought that had plagued the land as a judgment from God. In 1 Kings 18:42-44 , Elijah's persistence in prayer is evident. He climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, bent down to the ground, and put his face between his knees. He instructed his servant to look toward the sea for any sign of rain. After sending his servant seven times, the servant finally reported a small cloud rising from the sea.

God's response to Elijah's prayer for rain was a demonstration of His mercy and faithfulness. The small cloud grew into a great storm, bringing much-needed rain to the parched land. This event underscored God's control over nature and His readiness to bless His people when they turn back to Him in repentance and faith.

Elijah's Prayer in Despair

In 1 Kings 19, after the triumph on Mount Carmel, Elijah faced a period of deep despair and fear due to Jezebel's threats on his life. Fleeing into the wilderness, Elijah prayed for death, saying, "It is enough, now, O LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers" (1 Kings 19:4). Despite Elijah's despondency, God's response was one of compassion and care. An angel provided him with food and water, strengthening him for a forty-day journey to Mount Horeb, where God would reveal Himself in a gentle whisper, reaffirming Elijah's mission and purpose.

Conclusion

Elijah's prayers and God's responses highlight the dynamic relationship between the prophet and the Almighty. Through fervent prayer, Elijah experienced God's power, provision, and presence, serving as an enduring example of faith and reliance on God.
Subtopics

Derisively Challenges the Priests of Baal to offer Sacrifices

Elijah

Elijah the Tishbite, a Gileadite and Prophet, Called Elias

Elijah: A Post-Exile Jew

Elijah: Also Called Eliah: A Benjamite Chief

Elijah: Antitype of John the Baptist

Elijah: Appears to Jesus at his Transfiguration

Elijah: Consolation Given To

Elijah: Despondency and Complaints of

Elijah: Fasts for Forty Days

Elijah: Flees to the Wilderness of Damascus

Elijah: Kills the Prophets of Baal

Elijah: Miracles of Calls Fire Down Upon the Soldiers of Ahaziah

Elijah: Miracles of Causes Fire to Consume the Sacrifice

Elijah: Miracles of Causes Rain After Seven Years of Drought

Elijah: Miracles of Increases the Oil of the Widow of Zarephath

Elijah: Miracles of Raises the Son of the Woman of Zarephath from the Dead

Elijah: Persecuted by Ahab

Elijah: Personal Aspect of

Elijah: Prophecies of Foretells a Drought

Elijah: Prophecies of The Death of Ahaziah

Elijah: Prophecies of The Destruction of Ahab and his House

Elijah: Prophecies of The Plague Sent As a Judgment Upon the People in the Time of Jehoram, King of Israel

Elijah: Returns, and Sends a Message to Ahab

Elijah: The Tishbite

Elijah: The Tishbite, a Gileadite and Prophet, Called Elias in the King James Version of the Nt: Piety of

Escapes to the Wilderness from the Fierceness of Jezebel

Escapes to the Wilderness, where he is Miraculously Fed by Ravens

Irony: Elijah to the Priests of Baal

Meets Ahab and Directs Him to Assemble the Prophets of Baal

Sarcasm: Elijah to the Priests of Baal

Related Terms

Serpent (40 Occurrences)

Jashubi-lehem (1 Occurrence)

Jashubi (1 Occurrence)

Jashubilehem (1 Occurrence)

Jokim (1 Occurrence)

Lehem (1 Occurrence)

Chozeba (1 Occurrence)

Cremation

Coze'ba (1 Occurrence)

Cozeba (1 Occurrence)

Smiter (9 Occurrences)

Saramel

Scorpion (6 Occurrences)

Sarchedonus

Seraphim (2 Occurrences)

Jo'ash (44 Occurrences)

Records (50 Occurrences)

Ruled (84 Occurrences)

Dominion (72 Occurrences)

Adversity (54 Occurrences)

Beth-lehem (49 Occurrences)

Joash (49 Occurrences)

Moab (162 Occurrences)

Ancient (64 Occurrences)

Elijah's Prayer
Top of Page
Top of Page