The Result

And Eliyahu said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!" So they seized them; and Eliyahu brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there. Then Eliyahu said to Achav, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain." So Achav went up to eat and drink. And Eliyahu went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again." Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Achav, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.'" Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Achav rode away and went to Jezreel. Then the Hand of HaShem came upon Eliyahu; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Achav to the entrance of Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:40-46)

It will be important to remember what was said in verse 40, later in this study. The people, now convinced of the power and reality of HaShem, respond to Eliyahu's call and seize the prophets of Baal, and take them down to the Brook Kishon where they are executed. (We do not know what happens to the prophets of Asherah, but it would not be surprising to learn that they beat a hasty retreat while they could. Or, they also might have been lumped into the same group and met the same fate as the prophets of Baal.) This is a pretty solid response on the part of the people, and it bears noting.

And in the same mode of demonstration of power, now that the prophets of Baal are dead, Eliyahu prays and brings about the rain, thus fulfilling his words to Achav back in chapter 17, verse 1. Before he prays for the rain, he declares to Achav that rain is coming soon, so that Achav is left with no doubt as to who has done this.

Much speculation has been made as to the significance of Eliyahu having to pray seven times for the rain, indicated by the sending of his servant to look eight times before seeing the cloud. This alone could be the subject of an in depth study, with no real definitive answer, since we are not told. This study will not delve into the possible meanings and symbolisms behind HaShem's apparent delay in answering. It does bear mentioning, though, that Eliyahu does not seem to suffer any crisis of faith when the response does not occur immediately. He continues to pray, and is not surprised when the answer comes. This should be an example of how we also should approach prayer. Our faith should not be hinged upon seeing immediate answers, and when He does answer, we should not find ourselves surprised that He would do so. We might be amazed at the manner in which He responds, but we should never be surprised that He does indeed respond. (To be surprised that He responds is to reveal that there was a doubt that He would, and we should never doubt His love for us.)

Not only does HaShem send rain, but a heavy rain at that, again, in accordance with the words spoken to Achav by Eliyahu. And in the midst of it, HaShem enables Eliyahu to outrun Achav's chariot all the way back to Jezreel, a distance of between 20 and 25 miles. (Had it been timed, it would likely have been a marathon record that would still stand to this day!) All in all, it has been an extremely positive day for Eliyahu, spiritually.