The LORD Sends Rain

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”

42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the summit of Carmel, bent down on the ground, and put his face between his knees. 43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant.

So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.”

Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

44 On the seventh time the servant reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.”

And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

45 Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.

46 And the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he tucked his cloak into his belt [fn] and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.