Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.” So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel. He bent down on the ground and put his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, “Go up and look toward the sea.” So he went up, looked, and said, “There’s nothing.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming up from the sea.” Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’ ” In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. So Ahab got in his chariot and went to Jezreel. The power of the Lord was on Elijah, and he tucked his mantle under his belt and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. ~1 Kings 18:41–46
One of our friends spent several years teaching first grade. One evening, over dinner, she told us the story of little Jason. The boy was an above-average student. He got along with his classmates well and was kind and respectful to the teacher. Jason’s problem was his hair. Although it certainly wasn’t life-threatening, the lad’s daily appearance became a real quandary to our friend, Jason’s teacher.
“How could a bright youngster like Jason,” she told us, “look so absolutely awful?”
So she looked for an opportunity to deal with the problem. She waited for just the right moment. And then it happened on picture day. A note had been sent home to tell parents—primarily mothers—that Friday was going to be the day for class photographs. Incredibly, Jason showed up impeccably coiffed. His teacher seized the moment like a kitten on a ball of yarn. “Jason, you look terrific,” she told the surprised youngster. “You’d better strap on your running shoes,” she continued, “because every girl in our class will be chasing you today.” Jason never again came to school with messy hair.
Who will ever be able to harness the power of an encouraging word?
The story preceding today’s verses is a remarkable one. The courage of Elijah and the visible faithfulness of God are indelibly recorded here. It was time for rain. Imagine how thirsty everything must have been after seven years of drought. With a pat on the back, Elijah told King Ahab to hustle back to the palace, for there was “the sound of a rainstorm” (v. 41). But as you read on, you realize there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
Then Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel to pray for rain. We see him with his face on the ground desperately beseeching God to answer his request. Periodically he sent his servant to look into the western sky. He was looking for rain clouds. Six times the servant came back to Elijah and told him there was nothing. Then on the seventh trip, the servant reported that there was “a cloud as small as a man’s hand” (v. 44) rising from the sea. The average meteorologist wouldn’t have paid attention, but for Elijah it was all the encouragement he needed.
This man of God hiked up his robe and ran all the way to Jezreel.1 Isn’t this a great picture? The Creator of the universe sent a tiny cloud followed by a torrential thunderstorm. And the believing man, making no attempt to dodge the raindrops splattering the dust or the puddles collecting on the roadway, dashed for town just ahead of the king.
God sent a tiny cloud, and it was all Elijah needed. Our teacher friend spoke one word of encouragement to the unkempt Jason, and he was changed.
How about your children? Do they need such a word from their dad? And what about your wife? How long has it been since you spotted something special about her and told her how much you appreciated it? And how about your friends? Do they need to hear good words from you?
Aren’t you glad God loves us enough to send little clouds and first-grade teachers to encourage us? Now, go and do likewise.
1 My research tells me that this trip was fifty kilometers. Almost two marathons. Sign this prophet up for the cross-country team.