Faith of Elijah
Quotations from the writings of Ellen G. White with the phrase . . .
| Elijah addresses Ahab: "Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain." While Ahab went up to feast, Elijah went up from the fearful sacrifice to the top of Mount Carmel to pray. His work of slaying the pagan priests had not unfitted him for the solemn exercise of prayer. He had performed the will of God. After he had, as God's instrument, done what he could to remove the cause of Israel's apostasy by slaying the idolatrous priests, he could do no more. He then intercedes in behalf of sinning, apostate Israel. In the most painful position, his face bowed between his knees, he most earnestly supplicates God to send rain. Six times in succession he sends his servant to see if there is any visible token that God has heard his prayer. He does not become impatient and faithless because the Lord does not immediately give the token that his prayer is heard. He continues in earnest prayer, sending his servant seven times to see if God has granted any signal. His servant returns the sixth time from his outlook toward the sea with the discouraging report that there is no sign of clouds forming in the brassy heavens. The seventh time he informs Elijah that there is a small cloud to be seen, about the size of a man's hand. This is enough to satisfy the faith of Elijah. He does not wait for the heavens to gather blackness, to make the matter sure. In that small, rising cloud his faith hears the sound of abundance of rain. His works are in accordance with his faith. He sends a message to Ahab by his servant: "Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not." {3T 286.2} {RH, October 7, 1873 par. 3} |
| Unyielding faith of Elijah |
| Jacob wrestled with the angel all night before he gained the victory. When morning broke, the angel said, "Let me go, for the day breaketh." But Jacob answered, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." Then his prayer was answered. "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob," said the angel, "but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." We need the perseverance of Jacob, and the unyielding faith of Elijah. Time after time Elijah sent his servant to see if the cloud was rising, but no cloud was to be seen. At last, after seven times, the servant returned with the word, "There ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand." Did Elijah stand back and say, I will not receive this evidence; I will wait till the heavens gather blackness?-- No. He said, It is time for us to be going. He ventured all upon that token from God, and sent his messenger before him to tell Ahab that there was the sound of abundance of rain. {RH, January 9, 1900 par. 10} |
| We need the perseverance of Jacob and the unyielding faith of Elijah. Time after time Elijah sent his servant to see if the cloud was rising, but no cloud was to be seen. At last, after seven times, the servant returned with the word, "There ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand" (1 Kings 18:44). Did Elijah stand back and say, I will not receive this evidence; I will wait till the heavens gather blackness? No. He said, It is time for us to be going. He ventured all upon that token from God and sent his messenger before him to tell Ahab that there was the sound of abundance of rain. {HP 88.4} |
| We need the perseverance of Jacob, and the unyielding faith of Elijah,-- faith that will take hold, and will not let go. Inspiration tells us that Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are; yet the Lord heard his prayer. And why should not the Lord be entreated in behalf of his people today? He will; for heaven is not closed against the fervent prayer of the righteous. The only reason of our lack of power with God is to be found in ourselves. {SW, March 24, 1908 par. 8} |
| We need the determined perseverance of Jacob, and the unyielding faith of Elijah. Time after time Elijah sent his servant to see if the cloud was rising, but no cloud was to be seen. At last, after seven times, the servant returned with the word, "I see a little cloud, as large as a man's hand." Did Elijah stand back and say, "I will not receive this evidence. I will wait until the heavens gather blackness"? No. He said, It is time for us to be going. He ventured all upon that token from God, and sent his messenger before him to tell Ahab that there was the sound of abundance of rain. {2SAT 8.5} |