After Elijah called down fire against the prophets of Baal in the spiritual Superbowl, he informed King Ahab that there was a "sound of heavy rain". Ahab had just been through 3 years of being called out by God. Elijah had prayed for the drought and God brought it to humble Ahab and the nation. The Baal's they worshipped were specifically honored for things like fertility, harvest, and...RAIN. After Elijah proved, by God's mighty hand, that there is no question whose God is the strongest, there was no need for the drought so Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of heavy rain".
Even when you are a great person of faith who has seen the miraculous, there is always a moment where a huge demand is put on your faith. Elijah knew that God had caused the drought and he knew God would end it. Still, Elijah climbed to the top of Mt. Carmel (revisiting the place where God had done amazing things before ;) ) and bent down with his face between his knees. That is a posture of some soul-rending prayer right there. It was time to believe for the next great move of God.
He asked his servant to go look out over the sea to check if rain was coming. He was going to stay and fix his faith on what he knew God was gonna do. Six times the servant went and came back with a negative report. (Do we sometimes give up after simply the prospect of a negative report?) On the seventh time he pretty much said, "Bro, I see something like a cloud, but it's about the size of a dude's fist". That was all Elijah needed!!!! He popped up and said, "Go tell Ahab, get ready you're gonna get hit by a monsoon".
Never question in the dark what God has spoken to you in the light. Some people would have thought, "A cloud the size of a man's hand? I give up!" Not you though! Not me! Not people who live for things that we cannot see. We say, "THAT"S IT!". I knew God would come through! If there has been a drought of hope in your life, do not fear. Revisit what God has done, fix your faith, and get ready for rain.
Can you hear it? I can. It is the sound of heavy rain.
