Abundance of Rain Part 2

1. God’s ways are not our ways.

How often we fall into the trap of thinking that God acted in a certain way one time then he would act in the same way every time. There are those that teach that if we follow a certain pattern then God will act. We cannot put God into a box. God cannot be controlled by us. We are coming to the Almighty God and we must see that God will be God. The answer to Elijah’s prayer for fire was supernatural. It was not normal for fire to fall from heaven and then to burn up everything including the stones and the water. On the other hand, the answer to Elijah’s prayer for rain was natural. God sent the clouds from the west and the rain fell as rain always falls.

There are others that say that it is a lack of faith to keep coming to God with the same request. They say that we should come to God with our request and then believe that He will answer that prayer. However, this does not follow the pattern of scripture. Abraham pleaded for Sodom and kept coming to God. Jacob wrestled with God all night before God blessed him. Paul asked that the thorn in his flesh be removed three times before God showed him that He had something better for him.

Elijah had announced to Ahab that there was the sound of the abundance of rain. Elijah was a man of faith and it was with faith ears that heard the sound of rain. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Elijah was sure of what he could not hear or see because he had the promise of his God.

If Elijah was so certain of what he could not see or hear then why did he pray seven times for rain? Elijah knew that God ordains the ends but not always the means.