“And (Elijah) said to his servant, ‘Go up now, look toward the sea.’ And he went up, and looked, and said, ‘There is nothing.’ And he said, ‘Go again seven times.'” 1 Kings 18:43
In the New Testament, we find where the lord Jesus used parables to illustrate certain truths and reveal the ways of God. One of these parables focused on a widow in a city who had been taken advantage of by her “adversary.” Her appeal to the judge was for justice. The judge would not deal with her request based on the merits of the issue. It would only be when he could no longer endure her constant coming that he was moved to respond favorably to her request. The Lord’s point in the parable concerning that which is right, and just, in the sight of God, is that God does hear prayer if one is truly sincere and determined to meet seek God. This woman, like Jacob of old, had set themselves to seek justice, or mercy, as the case may be, until God intervened. The Lord’s words to such as seek Him in such a manner are very comforting: “And shall God avenge His elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.” (Luke 18:7,8)
In God’s dealings with Israel in Elijah’s day, His method was consistent with individuals, as well as nations and peoples. That method was to first identify Himself to the people, declaring who He truly was, and then, by His word, tell them what He was going to do. Elijah prayed the following: “The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word.” (1 Kings 18:36) We might ask ourselves at this point, “What is then the relationship of watching and waiting when considering God speaking, revealing Himself as God to the people?” Certainty in prayer is based wholly upon the nature, character, and commitment of God according to His word. That which He declares is that which He will do and be inquired of to do. After the great victory at Mt. Carmel over all the prophets of Baal, with the country still in the grip of a three year drought and consequent famine, Elijah sends word to wicked king Ahab, “Get thee up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of abundance of rain.” (1 Kings 18:41) How did Elijah know this? The answer is simple: God told him. It is for this reason also that Elijah would go to the top of Mount Carmel to pray, to inquire of the Lord, until there was the first glimpse of the rain coming. This he did, and continue to do, for seven times. Each time there was the command to Elijah’s servant to go, and look towards the sea. For six of those times the servant would return saying that he saw nothing. However, and in response to Elijah’s perseverance in believing prayer, based upon the word of the Lord, the servant would say to Elijah: “Behold, there ariseth a little cloud of the sea, like a man’s hand.” Elijah then arises, and knows that the “great rain” is on its way. By prayer, Elijah was sending his servant to “watch” the horizon, all the time, “waiting” for the sign of God’s answer to prayer.
In a beautiful passage in the book of Ezekiel, the Lord declares what He will do for Israel, at a time when she was very low, and hopeless. He spoke of giving to the people a new heart, and a new Spirit within them, saving them from all their uncleanness, and restoring them to their land. He also spoke of great blessing. He then calls them to pray: “I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them like a flock.” (36:37)
Dear Father, Give us to watch and wait according to Thy word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.