Lesson 6 – God Strengthens Elijah
Read 1 Kings 18:41-46 https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1KI.18.ESV
1 Kings 18:46 – And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Elijah believed God was going to send rain as He had promised, even though the cloudless sky was bright blue and the hot sun was beating mercilessly down on the dry, cracked soil, as it had for the past three years. Elijah heard the wind and raindrops of the coming storm with his faith-ears. He sent word to Ahab, Israel’s idol-worshiping king – Eat and drink to celebrate the rain to come.

But Elijah also prayed reverently, expecting God to fulfill His promise. He sent his servant to look for signs God was going to send rain, but his servant looked seven times before there was even a ray of hope – a tiny cloud appeared, the size of a hand.

This was Elijah’s sign the promised rain was coming very soon. He sent word to King Ahab to get down off the mountain before the rainstorm stopped him. Ahab rushed down the mountain in his chariot. And God strengthened Elijah to run in front of the king’s chariot for almost twenty miles celebrating the Lord’s answer to his prayers, proving Himself to be the one true God!

Did you notice how many times these six verses include the word UP? And there are a few times the word DOWN is used also. Elijah told Ahab to go UP to eat and drink before the rain came, and then Elijah went UP to the top of Mt. Carmel and bowed himself DOWN in fervent prayer. Elijah told his servant to go UP and look toward the sea for a sign of the rain God had promised. Then Elijah instructed his servant to go UP and tell Ahab to saddle UP and go DOWN the mountain in his chariot, before the DOWN-pour stopped him. Gathering UP his garment and tying it around his waist, Elijah, with amazing strength from God, ran DOWN the mountain ahead of Ahab’s chariot.


1 Corinthians 9:24 – Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Hebrews 12:1-2 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

*When have you believed God would keep His word and promises even before you saw a glimmer of hope? How did you keep praying, in faith expecting God to answer?
*Think of all the times God has been faithful to keep His promises through the UPS and DOWNS of your life. Thank Him!