“Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea *(Look again!).” So he went up and looked, and said, “ There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” I Kings 18:41-43
This is a story that is well know and is really reassuring when it comes to God’s faithfulness. It’s proof of a promise being fulfilled. However, the part that amazes is the prophet telling his servant Ahab, to look again, not just once, but seven times. I mean come on! Once, maybe twice… maybe three times, but seven times. Of course we know that seven is the number of completion… but still, seven times, I don’t know if I would have done it.
Anyway, he did and the seventh time he didn’t see rain, he saw a cloud, I know, you know, the size of a mans hand. But, the cloud represented rain and since they were in a drought and they were believing God for rain, so at the sight of a cloud the size of a man’s hand, they prepare for the rain! God will position so that you will prosper and produce more and this cloud is proof of God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises.
Ahab went up to Mount Carmel which means: a fruitful and bountiful place. He looked over the sea, and saw the cloud. Now if the cloud was over the sea, that means it would have even more of an opportunity to obtain more moisture from the evaporation of the ocean waters. God has a way of positioning things in a place where it can become more and fulfill a promise.
I couldn’t post this scripture without talking a little bit about it, however I really wanted to talk to you about this one phrase in this passage: “Look again.” I want to look at this scripture, not just in the since of believing God for a promise, but, in the sense of looking again and for being grateful for what you already have. I know, I’m really shifting gears and the focus. Nevertheless, we get focused on the wrong things and therefore we miss what we already have. They were believing for rain, but saw nothing until the small cloud.
1. When you look again, you may see what you didn’t see the first time.
2. When you look again, you may see that what you have, is really all you need.
3. When you look again, you may see although it’s not what you desire, it is enough for where you are right now.
4. When you look again, it will cause you to see that it’s not as bad as it could be.
5. When you look again, it will produce a faith that will allow you to see that:
- God is faithful.
- God has been faithful.
- And He always will be faithful.
