1 Kings 18:44
And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
On Carmel after Israel's confession Elijah prayed earnestly for rain and sent his servant to look toward the sea, and at the seventh look a little cloud like a man's hand arose, upon which he warned Ahab to hurry down before the rain stopped him, and the sky soon blackened with great rain. His faith was sorely tried by repeated delay with no outward sign, yet he did not grow impatient, doubt, or let go of God's promise but continued in earnest, unyielding prayer until the answer came. He took that smallest token as full assurance that God had heard and would send abundance, and acted at once without waiting for the heavens to gather blackness or for fuller evidence by sight. That persistence is the pattern for prevailing prayer, where much secret communing with God precedes work for others and persistent faith claiming His promises brings heaven's refreshing blessing. The little cloud rising out of the sea also supplies the image of the sign of the Son of man, a small dark cloud in the east recognized by God's people which draws nearer growing brighter until it becomes a great glorious white cloud bearing Jesus with angels to raise the dead and judge the living and the dead.
Setting and Fulfillment
On top of Mount Carmel, after fire from heaven had fallen, the idolatrous priests had been slain, and Israel had confessed sin, Elijah bowed with his face between his knees in painful, humiliating, earnest supplication for rain to withdraw the curse of drought. He had told Ahab to go up to eat and drink because there was a sound of abundance of rain, while he himself went up to pray and sent his servant toward the sea to look for a token. Six times the servant reported clear, brassy heavens with no sign of clouds. At the seventh time he reported a little cloud about the size of a man's hand arising out of the sea.
Elijah at once sent word to Ahab to prepare his chariot and go down quickly before the rain stopped him. The warning was to hurry lest travel become difficult when the storm broke. The small sign grew until night gathered about Carmel with heaven black with clouds and wind and great rain falling. Ahab rode down to Jezreel through darkness and blinding rain, unable to see his way before him.
Though Elijah had that day humiliated Ahab before his subjects and slain his idolatrous priests, he still acknowledged him as Israel's king. Strengthened by God's power, he ran before the royal chariot as an act of homage, guiding the king to the entrance of the city. His willingness to perform the service of a menial after the granting of his petition is a lesson in humility for all who claim to be servants of God and feel exalted above lowly duties.
The verse belongs after three and three and a half years of famine in which the treasures of heaven had been withheld by his word. During that time Elijah had stood lonely with faithful warnings, burden, and solicitude against national idolatry while watching and waiting for repentance. Fire had flashed to consume the sacrifice and judgment had been executed on the prophets, and after Israel acknowledged God the curse was withdrawn. God, all-powerful and pitiful, granted rain after fire, renewing blessing with dew and rain to refresh the earth, which testified to the showers of blessing waiting to be poured upon Israel. Elijah later forgot what God had done in sending fire and rain when Jezebel's threatening message came, fleeing in fear as a discouraged fugitive instead of trusting the same God, and did not complete the work he had begun.
Persevering Prayer and Faith
Elijah's faith was sorely tried and tested by delay, praying and sending his servant to look seven times with no outward sign that his prayer was being answered. Six times there was no sign of clouds, only clear, brassy heavens, and at the seventh time a little cloud about the size of a man's hand arose out of the sea. He did not become impatient and faithless because God did not answer immediately, give way to doubt, waver, or let go of God's promises too soon, but continued in earnest, unyielding, firm, importunate prayer with living faith, holding fast to God's sure promises and keeping on asking until the answer came even when appearances seemed against him. His endurance through repeated prayer until faith was rewarded is the example of persistent faith that must hold firmly through trial.
When the small cloud appeared, Elijah treated that slightest token as enough to satisfy his faith and as God's assurance that He had heard and would send abundant rain, in it hearing the sound of abundance of rain and remaining confident in the promised answer. He did not wait for the heavens to gather blackness, for the sky to darken, or for fuller, stronger evidence to make the matter sure by sight. His works matched his faith, for he acted at once on the first small sign, promptly expecting abundant rain and warning Ahab to prepare his chariot and hurry down before the rain stopped him, showing faith that takes hold of God's answer and trusts even the slightest sign of His favor.
His unyielding persistence is the pattern for asking and receiving: personal effort for others must be preceded by much secret prayer, communing with Christ before communicating with men to obtain preparation at the throne of heavenly grace and then with his persistence claiming all God has promised. Prayer offered in such persistent faith brings heaven's blessing and refreshes the soul.
Sign of Christ's Return
The little cloud about the size of a man's hand rising out of the sea supplies the image for the sign of the Son of man at the second coming of Jesus. A small, dark cloud appears in the east and is recognized by God's people as that sign. In one telling it is described as about half as large as a man's hand and black in appearance.
Watched in solemn silence, as it draws nearer it grows lighter and brighter and more and more glorious. It becomes a great, glorious white cloud surrounding the Saviour and bearing Jesus as He descends, accompanied by angels. As it approaches it reveals Christ seated upon it with the angelic host with Him, and He comes as the conquering King to judge the living and the dead.
Its under side looks like fire, a rainbow is over it, and around it are ten thousand angels singing a lovely song. Upon it sits the Son of man with white curly hair lying on His shoulders, many crowns on His head, feet with the appearance of fire, and eyes as a flame of fire searching His children through and through. A sharp sickle is in His right hand and a silver trumpet in His left, and as the cloud draws still nearer the earth His trumpet sounds as He descends wrapped in flames of fire to wake the sleeping saints and raise the dead clothed with immortality.