PHOTO: Kelson Elijah said to Ahab, Go back, eat and drink ; for I hear the sound of rain. While Ahab went back to eat and drink, Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel and bowed down to the earth, putting his face between his knees. Now go up, he told his servant and look out to the sea. He went up and looked. There is nothing at all he said. Go back seven times Elijah said. The seventh time, the servant said, Now there is a cloud, small as a mans hand, rising from the sea. Elijah said, Go and say to Ahab, Harness the chariot and go down before the rain stops you. And with that the sky grew dark with cloud and storm, and rain fell in torrents. Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel. The hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and tucking up his cloak he ran in front of Ahab as far as the outskirts of Jezreel. 1Kg 18,41-46 (First reading from today’s Mass)
The King needed convincing. His people, in general, had come to accept Yahweh as their God, but Ahab was a holdout. He needed water. Elijah promised his God would send rain. So, Ahab drove his chariot (how does one do that?) up Mt. Carmel at Elijah’s prompting. Don’t know if the king ate and drank, or just brooded. Elijah prayed. Hard. Finally his servant reported that a small wisp of a cloud had appeared.
By the prophet’s reaction, one would have thought it was a thunderhead. He instructed his servant to hurry to Ahab and tell him to get his chariot down in a hurry because the coming storm would soon make descent impossible. This little cloud held that much water?
Elijah looked at a cloud and saw God’s hand. God’s provident care. Rain would come. He had no doubt.
I have been in a bit of a dry spell lately. My spiritual director, friends, counselor, encourage me. “The book will find a publisher.” ” The job front will get better.” “Things will work out.” “Trust in God’s time.”
I look, but when I see a tiny cloud, well, I see a tiny cloud. Not a mighty hand of God, or even a fingernail. I do have better days when I suspect there is more than my eye perceives. I choose to believe, but don’t feel confident. I surely don’t go running to tell my friends to prepare for a torrent of blessings.
I should. I guess. Today I am more Ahab than Elijah. God has to pummel me with heavy cold rain drops, maybe a hailstone or two, to get my attention. If I am Ahab, I give thanks for the Elijahs in my life who have clearer vision and faith that in God’s time, all will be well.
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