Elijah knew that his work was only begun when God sent the fire which burned up the sacrifice on Mount Carmel. He commanded the people to capture every one of the wicked priests of Baal and to take them down the mountain-side to the Brook Kishon. There he and the people killed them all.
Ahab looked on in silence, not knowing what to do. He could not protect the wicked priests because all his people believed that Elijah’s God was the only true God. He wondered what his wife, Jezebel, would do when she should find out that Elijah had made fun of her god, Baal, and that he had caused all of her priests to be put to death. While he was thinking about these things Elijah came near and said, “Go back upon the mountain, Ahab, and enjoy the feast, which the people have spread, for the famine is now ended and soon there will be a great rain.”
Ahab could see no sign of a cloud in the evening sky, but he turned at Elijah’s words and went up to the place of feasting. And Elijah climbed to the top of the Mount and knelt down there to pray. No one was with him now except his servant, and Elijah bowed his face to the ground and prayed earnestly that God would send rain. Then he sent his servant to look toward the sea for some sign; but the servant re-turned and said that he saw nothing. Elijah prayed again, and again he sent his servant to look for a sign from God; but the servant re-turned as before and said, “There is nothing.” Seven times Elijah prayed and seven times he sent his servant to look for a sign from God. And the seventh time the servant came back and said, “A little cloud like a man’s hand is rising out of the sea.”
Elijah took this for a sign from God that his prayer for rain had been heard and would be answered. He sent his servant to tell Ahab that he should make his chariot ready at once and hasten back to his home in Jezreel, before the rain should overtake him.
Elijah wrapped his hairy mantle about his body and ran down the mountain-side to go to Jezreel, too. He was very happy because God had shown such wonders in Israel that day. He believed that now the people of Israel would be ready to worship the true God and forsake Jezebel’s wicked religion. As he ran the strong winds blew and the sky grew darker with the coming storm. Soon the rain began to fall in torrents, and the brooks overflowed their banks and the dry, thirsty ground drank in the fresh water. But Elijah did not mind the rain at all. He was very happy because God had heard and answered his prayers.
Ahab knew that Elijah too had come to Jezreel, for he had seen the prophet running before his chariot. Now he hurried to his palace to tell Jezebel all that had happened on the Mount. However dis-pleased the King had been with Elijah’s doings that day, he did not feel able to punish the man of God. But he believed that his wicked wife could plan some way to punish him, and in this he was not mistaken.
Jezebel flew into an angry rage when she heard how Elijah had caused all her priests to be killed. She sent a messenger hurriedly to the prophet, saying, “Tomorrow at this time if I have not made your life as the lives of my priests whom you have slain then let the gods kill me, too.” And Elijah, hearing these words, rose up quickly and ran with his servant out into the dark, stormy night to escape from the wrath of the wicked Queen.