In this long drought in the land of Canaan, the cattle must have
suffered greatly, and many of them probably perished. Indeed, we read
that Ahab, the king of Israel, and Obadiah, the governor of his house,
searched the land for the fountains and brooks, to find grass to save,
the horses and mules alive, that they might not be all lost.

God is a Father, and, like a tender, loving father, he removes his
chastisements so soon as they have produced the effect designed. He
was "grieved for the misery of Israel." He told Elijah he would send
rain. The prophet went to Ahab, who, when he saw him, asked, "Art thou
he that troubleth Israel?" Elijah answered, it was Ahab, and his
father's house, who troubled Israel, because they had forsaken the
commandments of the Lord, and worshipped Baalim.

Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel, and earnestly prayed for
rain. God had promised that he would send it, and Elijah no doubt
pleaded this promise, as he interceded with him. He directed his
servant to go where he could look towards the sea. He went and looked,
and said, "There is nothing." Elijah was not discouraged. He knew God
would remember his promise, and he sent him seven times more. The
seventh time the servant returned, and said, "Behold, there ariseth a
little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand." It grew rapidly
larger and larger, till the sky was black with clouds and wind, and
there was a great rain.

James, in his Epistle, says, "The effectual fervent prayer of the
righteous man availeth much," and he mentions this instance of
prevailing prayer in Elijah, as an encouragement to all Christians to
ask for needed blessings. "Elijah was a man subject to like passions