My, Devotion to Him #209
Elijah told his servant to go and look toward the sea, but Elijah was not looking for a report on the weather, or a report on how many boats were out fishing, or how many people were swimming and having fun. Elijah was looking for the promise of God. For three and half years the land had been ravaged by a serve drought. But even in this dryness, Elijah had received a promise from God that rain would come. He simply needed to be obedient.
Verse Passage: 1 Kings 18:1 “After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” – NIV
After following through in obedience, Elijah prepared for and waited for that promise to come. But nothing happened, well at least not at first. There are times when God’s promises us something and we think it’s just going to happen that same day, and it might. However, there could other times when it might take a little bit longer than twenty-four hours for it to come to pass. Not because God is struggling to follow through on His promise. But He has His own time that we need to follow and get away from our own. Elijah’s servant returned with nothing but disappointment to report. No cloud. No rain. No promise. Elijah had held up his end of the deal, so where was God? Instead of giving up, though, Elijah told his servant to go back.
When we feel as if God did not hold up His end of the deal we should not give up. Instead we should continue to keep our end up and believe that He is holding His up and has held it. Because He is a faithful God. Finally, after Elijah’s servant had gone back seven times, evidence was finally witnessed. A cloud the size of a man’s hand was seen and taken as a sign of God’s promise to come. Elijah knew, and what we often fail to realize, is that God’s promises will come to pass, it just may not be according to our timing.
Verse Passage: 1 Kings 18:43-43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” – NIV
At this moment in your life, all evidence may be pointing to drought, but a drought doesn’t have to mean the death of your promise. It may just simply mean delay. It may mean patience, obedience, and stillness. If you’ve been looking for the evidence of what God has promised, don’t give up after the first glance. It’s time to go back. Just as Elijah instructed his servant to go back and keep going back until you see it come to pass. Elijah’s servant went back seven times! Seven! How many times have went and waited for such a short time and given up. Elijah held onto the very spoken Word of God! We need to do the same. Stop giving up! God has not given up on you so don’t give up on Him. What God promises you, He will do. The question now is: Will you wait for the cloud?
God Bless.
Copyright © 2019 by Jacob Olinger
Spirit Warrior Ministry 