THIS was the language of Elijah’s servant, who had only sense, and sight, and feeling by which to judge. But Elijah, the man of faith and prayer, who judged by faith in the power and promise of God, had already said, in spite of appearances, that there was “a sound of abundance of rain.”
Thus sight said there was nothing, while faith said there was abundance.
But truly there were many things to cause the servant to say there was nothing. It was a time of grievous famine and drought, which had wasted the land for over three years. Thus we read that there was no dew, and no rain, throughout the land of Israel. In Zarephath also of Zidon, a poor widow woman had no food, and no fuel, and was reduced to the last extremity. So also Ahab and Obadiah could find no water in the brooks, and no grass in the valleys. The widow’s son died, and there was no breath left in him. There was thus one universal no there was nothing!
And is it not very often so with God’s dear people and servants? No joy in the heart, no comfort in the life, and no apparent prosperity in anything. Reason says “there is nothing”; but faith says “there is abundance.” Sometimes a tradesman has no customers at his counter, no orders on his desk, and no balance at his bank. A dear child of God may have no comfort in his soul, and no power to pray. A servant of God may have no sermon, and even no text. But what does faith say under these circumstances? Faith knows well that there is abundance of everything with God, and that from His all-sufficiency there will be a rich supply for every real need. “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
How our God delights to answer prayer! He likes to be trusted, and invites every needy soul to name fully all its need to Him.
“With heaven and earth at His command,
He waits to answer prayer.”