Recently when praying for a friend I heard the Lord say “a cloud the size of a man’s hand”. It sent me back into the story of Elijah to explore what God was drawing to our attention in this particular time.
That night I took the photo above of the clouds in the sky at sunset.
1 Kings 18:41
And Elijah said to Ahab “Go, eat and drink, for there is the SOUND of a heavy rain”
18:42
…… but Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
Elijah sat there connected to the very earth that needed the rain so desperately.
The servant went to look toward the sea seven times before he finally reported
“a cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea”. Finally ‘a heavy rain came on’.
Are we asking that our ears would be opened to hear the sounds of what God is doing in the heavenly realms, not just the obvious sounds around us right now?
18:46 The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
Elijah had done battle with the prophets of Baal, it had been a big day, and yet when the rain came God gave him the power to run all the way to Jezreel faster than a chariot.
We are waiting for the rain which will bring God’s power into our lives in a new way.
Jezebel didn’t like it! It was immediately tested, and Elijah went into the desert, sat under a broom tree and prayed to die! “I have had enough Lord!” I wonder how many times we have said that!
At the point where all that God required Elijah to do had been done, he had experienced the backlash of the enemy’s displeasure, and he had completely run out of all his own strength, God and the angels began to move on his behalf.
The Lord sent angels to care for and FEED him, give him STRENGTH again, and MOVE him on – 40 days and nights journey to Mount Horeb – the MOUNTAIN OF GOD.
It’s important to observe the pattern here for it repeats in our own lives.
Elijah did great exploits, but they were nothing compared to what God did, and what God had prepared for him on the mountain.
On the mountain top God revealed Himself to Elijah in a new way, and He re-commissioned Elijah to go out again. There was a change of level and function of operation in the Lord’s call on his life.
We must be prepared to walk on the mountain top, in the valley, through the desert, and back to the mountain top again – it is the way forward. We cannot afford to despise any part of the journey or working of God, but embrace it as part of the His life in us.
The night I took the picture the whole sky was filled with little clouds 'the size of a man's hand' - may we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand His working in our lives and in the season we find ourselves in.
