2. Prayer is for God’s glory and not our comfort.
As Elijah was hiding by the stream he spent a great deal of time in prayer for his nation. He did not pray that the drought would end but rather he prayed that the drought would turn the hearts of the King and the leaders back to the Word of God and repent. He knew that if the leaders and the people would repent then the drought would end. He was reminded of the words of the Lord to King Solomon at the dedication of the temple, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV).
Each day he probably wondered if this was the day that King Ahab had repented. Would this be the day that God would bring healing to the land? He knew that before the rains would come to heal the land the people had to turn their hearts back to God. Elijah knew that the idolatry in the hearts of the people was much more serious than the drought. How many people have said, “If God really was a God of love then wouldn’t He remove this trial or sickness?” or “Wouldn’t He have prevented my loved one from being hurt in that accident?” Maybe it is because God is a God of love that he doesn’t remove the thorn in our flesh. God desires us to have a relationship with Him more than He desires our comfort.
Concluded tomorrow LW
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