Downpour

Three years with no rain had left the land depleted and dry.

The showdown on Mount Carmel between Yahweh and Baal had confirmed which god deserved worship.  "Yahweh is God," the people had chorused.  But Yahweh's purpose was not self-aggrandisement or public acclaim.  Yahweh was - and is - intensely passionate about people and their well-being. He cared too much for the land and its people to leave the soil dusty and dead.  Rain was desperately needed - and that was to be the next demonstration of the character of the true Rain-maker God.  Read the story in 1 Kings 18:41-46 

The sky did not look promising, but Elijah knew his God. He told Ahab that a major rainstorm was about to break.  Why Elijah even gave this corrupt, spineless idolatrous king, the time of day, I have no idea.  Frankly, I'm baffled by God's patience and mercy towards him. 

But Elijah returned to the top of Carmel, bent to the ground and put his face between his knees and prayed for the desperately needed, long-overdue rain. Later reflection on the life of Elijah focuses on him as a model of persevering prayer.

Six times he sent his servant to look toward the sea for signs of rain, but each time the servant returned with the same message - 'nothing there', he said.  But Elijah persevered, and the seventh time, the servant reported - "a cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea." That was all Elijah needed. "Go and tell Ahab, to hitch up his chariot and get home before the rain stops him," he said.

The sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, and a heavy rain came on. The long wait was over; the drought was finished.

It's not apparent that Ahab learned anything about the extensive toll that moral and spiritual degeneracy takes on social, economic and environmental health of the land. But after three years Yahweh mercifully cut the suffering short.

Mercy is falling is falling is falling

Mercy it falls like a sweet spring rain.

(Vineyard)

The story closes with Elijah hitching up his pants and running for cover before the driving rains (v.49). Or maybe he just ran in the rain for the sheer joy and relief of it all!