In the biblical narrative, the prophet Elijah is a prominent figure who experiences and prays for temporal blessings, demonstrating God's provision and power in times of need. Elijah's life and ministry, as recorded in the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings, provide several instances where temporal blessings are sought and granted through prayer.

Provision During Famine

One of the most notable instances of Elijah praying for temporal blessings occurs during the severe drought in Israel, which Elijah himself had prophesied as a judgment from God (1 Kings 17:1). During this time, God instructs Elijah to hide by the Brook Cherith, where he is miraculously provided for: "The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook" (1 Kings 17:6). This provision is a direct response to Elijah's obedience and reliance on God, showcasing a temporal blessing in the form of sustenance.

The Widow of Zarephath

Further demonstrating God's provision through Elijah's intercession, the narrative continues with Elijah's encounter with the widow of Zarephath. As the drought persists, God sends Elijah to Zarephath, where he meets a widow gathering sticks. Elijah requests food and water, and despite her dire circumstances, she complies. Elijah assures her, "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you have said. But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have and bring it out to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth'" (1 Kings 17:13-14). The widow's obedience results in a miraculous temporal blessing, as her household is sustained throughout the famine.

Raising the Widow's Son

Elijah's prayer for temporal blessings is further exemplified when the widow's son falls ill and dies. Elijah takes the child to his upper room, lays him on his own bed, and cries out to the LORD: "O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?" (1 Kings 17:20). Elijah stretches himself upon the child three times and prays, "O LORD my God, please let this boy's life return to him!" (1 Kings 17:21). The LORD hears Elijah's prayer, and the boy's life is restored, demonstrating God's power to grant life as a temporal blessing in response to fervent prayer.

Mount Carmel and the End of the Drought

Elijah's prayer life reaches a climactic moment on Mount Carmel, where he confronts the prophets of Baal. After God answers Elijah's prayer by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice, the people acknowledge the LORD as the true God. Following this victory, Elijah prays for the end of the drought. He tells his servant to look toward the sea seven times, and on the seventh time, the servant reports a small cloud rising. Elijah's persistent prayer results in a heavy rain, ending the drought: "In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain" (1 Kings 18:45).

Elijah's life and ministry illustrate the power of prayer in seeking temporal blessings. His reliance on God and his fervent prayers serve as a testament to God's faithfulness in providing for His people in times of need. Through Elijah, the biblical narrative reveals that God is attentive to the prayers of the righteous and is capable of granting temporal blessings that meet immediate physical needs.1 Kings 17:20,21
And he cried to the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
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1 Kings 18:42,44
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees,
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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.
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Elijah the Tishbite
... Elijah's prayer was answered ... the folly of trusting to the power of Baal for temporal
blessings. ... and acknowledge Him as the source of all blessing, there should ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 9 elijah the tishbite.htm

Letter v. Prayer and Fasting.
... be sure that the particular temporal blessing that we ... spirit of our Lord's agonizing
prayer in the ... an inexhaustible fulness of spiritual blessings treasured up ...
/.../letter v prayer and fasting.htm

Prayer --The Forerunner of Mercy
... 4. And yet again, prayer before the blessing serves to ... If we had the blessings without
asking for them ... makes the common pebbles of God's temporal bounties more ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/prayerthe forerunner of mercy.htm

Spiritual Culture.
... a perfect operation of faith that will draw blessings and life ... that reaches God in
a time of temporal need not ... of greatest need always prove a blessing to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter xi spiritual culture.htm

Discerning Prayer.
... and all our desires for material blessings will be ... that our fervent earnest prayer
for temporal blessing is led ... That God can give blessing, without the use of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/the wonders of prayer/discerning prayer.htm

Prevailing Prayer.
... of being destroyed with a temporal destruction, Esther 4 ... properly prepared to receive
great blessings without being ... they had received the blessing without this ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture iv prevailing prayer.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... of devils "goeth not out but by prayer and fasting ... return and repent, and leave a
blessing behind him ... Nor are they only temporal blessings which God directs his ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 27 upon our lords.htm

Lives of Faith and Trust
... of the most striking cases of blessing recorded is ... can not prevent this by prayer,"
said one ... as follows this question: "Should we fray for temporal blessings?". ...
/.../various/the wonders of prayer/lives of faith and trust.htm

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits ...
... deny that God is the author of all their blessings. ... Here we may refer to the prayer
of David ... had received special instruction to pray for a temporal blessing. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of prayera perpetual.htm

The Best Things Work for Good to the Godly
... Let me want the venison, so I may have the blessing. ... Psalm 116:9). He that takes
a review of his blessings, looks upon ... A Christian is a temporal saviour. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/the best things work for.htm

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