(1 Kings 18:41-46.)

When the public break with idolatry was made, the time of Israel's long famine came to an end. While there was not that penitence and self-abhorrence on their part which betoken a lasting work, there was at least sufficient public acknowledgment of God to permit His ever-ready mercy to act. Judgment is His strange work, but He delighteth in mercy. Of course, this mercy is sovereign, dependent upon Himself alone for its exercise; but it is of interest and profit to see how God uses the exercises of His people as channels for His blessings.

Thus we see that Elijah's faith foresees the abundance of rain, and he can confidently predict it to the king; but ere that fall of rain comes, for the man of God there is no eating and drinking, but the loneliness of Carmel and the wrestling in prayer. May we not say that we have here a pattern of God's ways with His people? It may not be all who are aroused; perhaps only some lonely Elijah is in travail, looking and waiting and still waiting till "patience hath its perfect work." It is a Gideon, hiding the wheat from the Midianites, as he weeps in secret over Israel's shame and misery, who is the instrument of deliverance for the nation.

Look at this lonely man upon Carmel:see his intense earnestness, his whole soul absorbed. Such men pray, and get answers to their prayers. It is no easy thing to pray thus. Everything suggests the oneness of purpose, the denial of self and the persistence that is a pledge of the answer before it comes. This is what is meant by fasting. Surely there is no merit in abstinence from food, nor is it even a means of grace. It is rather an indication of the state of soul, which cares for nothing till its prayer is answered. How much, dear brethren, do we know of this kind of prayer?

Elijah waits long for his answer, and when it comes there is nothing to indicate the mighty results that will eventually follow. After the seventh look, his servant reports "a little cloud, like a man's hand." But how inadequate such an answer to his prayer. However Elijah waits no longer, and soon the mighty rain justifies his expectations.

But does not the manner of the answer suit with all the rest, in fact an illustration of the very thing of which we have been speaking? God is going to interpose, but the cloud He sends is the size of a man's hand. He will suggest that His blessing are to flow through human channels, and in one sense are dependent upon them.

A man's hand is the measure of a man's capacity and therefore of his responsibility.

Its very form seems to suggest the union of spirit and matter-the four fingers controlled by the one thumb, which is also a type or that higher control of the Creator, so commonly suggested by the number five. It is suggestive thus of the exercise that comes the with sense of responsibility.

Let us now in a very simple way apply this lesson. Through their departure from Him, God's people bring upon themselves a famine, spiritually. When have we a sign that this season of drought is at an end? Does some Elijah-spirit look and wait for an answer? He will get it in the cloud the size of a man's hand.
We all crave the supernatural, the miraculous. It may sound like a paradox, but God does not usually work in a supernatural way,-at least He does not usually begin in that way. It is not His way to have a period of depression followed by one of feverish exhilaration and excitement. The latter is no more a sign of health than the former. In fact what are ordinarily called revivals in certain quarters are by no means signs of spiritual refreshment, but of carnal excitement, to be followed by a more deathlike depression. No, the sign of the blessing is the cloud like a man's hand.

"What is that in thine hand?" the Lord asked Moses, and with the shepherd's crook He gave witness of His presence and delivering power. The lad with five barley loaves and two fishes furnished the nucleus for the supply of the need of the five thousand. They were the cloud the size of a man's hand. When we see an awakening on the part of God's people to their responsibility, the indifference exchanged for earnest desire, we see this cloud, at least faith does. As was said, the very prayer for blessing is a pledge of the blessing.

We hear an unaccustomed voice in prayer-a brother long silent is pouring out his heart's longings, and we see a cloud. It is small, only a man's hand, but it is God's sign of blessing. Other lips long mute are opened and, under the exercise and awakening, we realize God is manifestly present. That holy presence begets an awe, a reverence followed by a reality that has power which lasts.

The same is seen in real obedience. Saints long for a great work in the gospel. They expect to see rooms filled with anxious enquirers, nightly meetings crowded, and all the accompaniments of what is considered a mighty work of grace. On the contrary, the only sign may be a parent's importunate prayer for the conversion of a child, which is answered. Or some wanderer is reclaimed, or some difference between saints is adjusted. Some sister whose quiet ministry in the distribution of tracts has seemed so long fruitless, has the joy of seeing a soul brought to Christ. One or two saints may be stirred to make special prayer for the gospel, following it with effort to get this or that acquaintance to the meeting. There is nothing special, nothing remarkable, but the small cloud is the harbinger of a sweet and gracious shower.

Oh for the sign of these small clouds. Oh for the Elijah-spirit that claims and must have them. Why, dear brethren, should there not be at this very time and through each one of us, some refreshing to the Church of God? We are not straitened in Him, but in ourselves alone. There is a dreadful lack in many of us. There is great unbelief and slowness of heart in those who think they are of no special use. When once the spiritual sloth that says this is shaken off, we will see the cloud, and have the rain. The Lord awaken us all.